I Like Carrots

Like the wind!

2012-01-27T15:23:00.000-08:00

Not really.

A week into her seventh month, Ada has graduated to crawling. She used it, of course, to get closer to a trash can of dirty diapers.

I didn't bother editing the video ... so forward the play bar to 4:12. When you've watched the miracle a few times, you can go back to the beginning and watch her playing with the dog crate door, which was fascinating to me until, well, until she started moving around the house on her own.

Afterwards I tried to get her to do it again, but the crawling/dog crate door operating tired her out. So now she is in her crib babbling to her stuffed chicken before falling asleep for afternoon naps.

Seven Months!

2012-01-22T08:33:00.001-08:00

Big Girl Desk!

2012-01-21T17:06:00.000-08:00

It has been a really REALLY long time since I've had an official this-was-designed-to-be-a-desk desk. I've worked on dining room tables, coffee tables, work tables with wobbly tops, and finally FINALLY I HAVE A DESK! AND IT HAS DRAWERS!

Well, actually, it's designed to be a craft table. Whatevs. It's a desk. Thanks Martha!

But first I had to put it together. ALL parts required assembly.
There were a total of 22 actual desk pieces, 124 pieces of hardware (including the drawer slides and knobs -- which I'll be replacing with cuter knobs), and 4 special tools.

It took 11 little bowls to separate the little screws and such.

And it came in a giant box.

It was fairly easy to assemble if you are patient, read the directions ...

and are able to reach odd angles while under low ceilings.

We did have one minor setback and that was that I'd assembled the drawer sides backwards, thus making the slides backwards and so when we placed the drawer in the hole bit, it smoothly went in but with a little too much gap. Back to the floor for more assembly!

But then it was a success!

And then it was a desk!

and a shot over a cute baby!

A reminder to my self

2012-01-19T08:12:00.000-08:00

Matthew McConaughey is My Power Animal

I have an itchy trigger finger when it comes to my emotional outbursts over injustice, contempt, and anger. I get this from my mother. We are both Sagittarius if you put any stock in that Zodiac business. We do — but only when it suits us.

Frequently my mom will call me, like today, simmering and just about ready to boil over about some perceived atrocity that has befallen her. I often call her in a similar state.

I’ve decided lately that this is no way to live and so I tried to talk her down. She kept saying her favorite saying, “I’m just going to be like water.” This of course is a total bastardization of the old proverb (or maybe Bruce Lee said it according to this website) that water doesn’t fight obstacles, it instead goes around them, over them, just wearing those obstacles to nothing and doesn’t let obstacles get it its way. This is great if you are a normal person or maybe Bruce Lee.

However, when we are “like water” my mom and I are really angry, indignant water. It’s not a calming motto or a way of being for my mom and I. Instead, it’s a passive way of dealing with something. Which really isn’t dealing with it at all.

So today I told her, “Don’t be like water. Don’t get all stone-faced and not say anything. This is not the way to be. You need to be like Matthew McConaughey.” And in that moment, I knew I was right.

What would Matthew McConaughey do? Maybe not the real MM, but the MM that lives in our perception. MM would just takes the news, shrug his shoulders, look out at the waves — gives his toes a little wiggle in the sand maybe, and then just say, “Cool. I’ll be over there,” and he’d point to a spot on the beach. “You let me know when you work that out.” And then he’d saunter off (I imagine MM saunters without attitude) to check out a Frisbee game.

This isn’t to say MM doesn’t know when to take a stand. He’s been embroiled in a few legal battles over paparazzi, he has been arrested for “resisting transportation” during the infamous nude-bongo-weed incident, and he’s involved in a lot of charity work, according to his official website.

In fact, he originally went to school to be a lawyer. So it isn’t that he isn’t into justice, a moron, or just wandering around in some catatonic state (well, maybe he is sometimes as he is known to enjoy a little weed here and there), but rather I imagine MM knows when to get cranked up and when to just shrug his shoulders, smile, and see how the waves are doing while everyone else sorts out their shit.
And that is why being like water is bullshit.

Be like McConaughey. Just. Keep. Living.

Hello, friends!

2012-01-10T07:33:00.000-08:00

Shirley and Ada read a book.

I know I haven't posted in a while because we've been very, very boring at our house so there hasn't been much to report.

Ada isn't yet crawling, though she seems so close we think it could be any day. She can get up on hands and knees and hold it there. She can even get a hand and knee forward just a smidge and she does the telltale rocking back and forth, but so far, no actual mobility. I used to be happy about this, but she's so frustrated and angry about it not working that I just want her to get on with it. I know, I know ... all in due time...

Still no teeth! She has these little gum bumps that are for sure going to be teeth entry points and she is frequently uncomfortable in a way that suggests teething, but so far, no nippers have made an appearance. Hasn't stopped her from enjoying some new foods ... ice cream, mac and cheese, banana lumps vs. mash, she really seems to enjoy potato soup, and yesterday she had a bit of yogurt.

I guess there is one thing to report on, but since we don't photo it I never posted much more about it. She's sleeping through the night. I mentioned last time that after her checkup with the pediatrician, he and I discussed it and he talked me into trying the Crying It Out (CIO) method. I had been so turned off of this idea because every parent I talked to about it acted like it was successful discipline of the child. It always came out harsh and combative and I've never felt that way towards Ada and didn't want to start. Luckily for us, Ada really did just want to be left alone it seems. It has been about two weeks now, and she hasn't put up much of a fight and although we still hear her (actually just me ... Jeffrey has gone back to his dead man sleep habits) whimpering and cooing in her bed occasionally, it never has become the pained hysterics I was fearing. In fact, for a bit there before we did the CIO, we'd pop into her room when we'd hear her, and rather than easily going back to sleep, she'd start wailing. I think we were disturbing her more than we thought. The CIO hasn't proved to be much of a CIO but rather a "stop worrying and just let me be I can do it myself" method. We also didn't lose our easy bedtime -- I had feared that she would start having trouble going to sleep at night if we did CIO -- something that we were really pleased to have so easy -- and that fear was needless. She still curls up with her blanket and goes to sleep in her crib, almost gratefully, every night.

Update: since I wrote that sentence, she has started bawling when we put her to bed. I'm hoping it's the cold and that when her sinuses are clear, we go back to easy bed times. Or maybe that ship has now sailed. Damn.

Another thing she has started to do is play to the camera. She can be crying, tired, or playing with great focus but the second she hears the camera turn on, she perks up, and the moment the focus light comes on, she starts grinning. We'll try to get video of this soon ... once Ada and I get over our colds and our noses are less red...

So that's about it. Shirley came to visit after Christmas and she and Ada had a great time playing together. In true Grandparent Gautreaux style, Shirley kept her entertained beyond tiredness and Ada would nearly collapse into her crib for naps. Shirley and Terry should consider a post-retirement careers as audience hype men.

Six Month Review!

2011-12-27T17:58:00.000-08:00

Ada's six-month anniversary was actually last week, but since her checkup wasn't until today, I held off on reporting since I didn't have any stats.

Now I do.

Weight: 18.4 pounds. We were convinced it was more like 30... 18 seems much more reasonable sounding.

Height: 25.75 in. Her pants are all becoming capris.

Head circumference: 43.2 cm. Um, yay? I never know what this stuff means.

To sum up: She's awesome.

It is hard for me to believe it has been half a year already. From not fitting into her smallest onesies in the beginning to sitting next to me right now as I type this (playing with blocks and trying to figure out how to hit the switch on the bouncer for music), I'm amazed at how she has grown.

Her skill sets are adding up nicely -- she has great core strength, excellent hand/eye coordination, she likes to feed herself, she is rolling around to destinations she can't crawl to (yet!), and can sit for a really long time and entertain herself with toys. She's also a scoundrel. Her little walker has enabled her to zoom around the house getting into trouble. Today she found she could get across the carpet and twang the doorstop, much to her delight. There are videos of her strutting around the house on www.youtube.com/AZGautreaux but it doesn't do it justice. You'll just have to come visit us and see!

She also is developing her palate: bananas, sweet potato, avocado, peas, carrots, regular potatoes, vanilla ice cream, saltines, graham crackers, pizza crust, and apples. She did not care for pears.

What she doesn't know is that tonight we start the "crying it out" phase of Project Ada Sleeping. She's not going to like it. Our pediatrician assures us it will make for a happier baby. I don't know. The baby in these pictures looks mighty happy to me ... and she woke up four times last night with demands.

A few more Christmas weekend moments

2011-12-27T17:33:00.000-08:00

Lily (the little one) got a new sweater for Christmas. Not to be outdone, Lucy pulled out the argyle. They both also received new collars -- light blue leather with rhinestone flowers -- but they are not pictured here.

Because nothing says happy days like Jeffrey holding the cutest Ada in the world. My mom made the hat and it is now a new favorite!

Ada gives a taste test to "Paulie" the polar bear, a gift from Katie and Elliott. That's an ADA-approved bear!

On the day after Christmas, we went on a short drive out of town to see some beauty. We found some!

Ada's First Christmas!

2011-12-25T07:48:00.000-08:00

Ada's first Christmas pile is not small for a 6-month-old! As every package was unwrapped, each gift was given a little mouth time in appreciation. Thank you to everyone who sent her a little something! This kid sure is lucky to have such excellent gift givers in her life!

We videoed the event, and I'm going to put it up on the YouTube channel as soon as it is done processing.

Merry Christmas!

Lunch with Ada

2011-12-20T11:35:00.000-08:00

Look! Hair!

That's avocado in there. She loves it!

Side view of hairs.

Snow and other updates!

2011-12-08T07:53:00.001-08:00

It is cold in Prescott. On Friday of last week, it started to snow. Then it stopped. Then it started again. It was getting mighty wintery out. Saturday, it kept snowing. The term "driving snow" could be used to describe what was going on during the annual Prescott Christmas parade -- those poor marching band kids must have been freezing.

Last year at this time, Jeffrey and I were in Phoenix and our hilarious idea for a Christmas card was us getting a tan in our backyard under the grapefruits. This is us this year. We're too cold to contemplate Christmas cards. Maybe next year.

There is still snow on the ground a week later -- and icy patches in the shade. Ada's first Christmas might be a white one.

This weekend we're going to get our tree and do some Christmas decorating. I'm also planning to find a Santa and foist the baby at him for some pictures. If he gets away with his beard intact, we'll consider it a success (she's a little grabby!)

In more Ada news, she's getting pretty sturdy. She isn't a large baby, but she's getting to be quite the chunk. She's been enjoying trying out new foods -- they aren't really sustaining her nutritionally, they are just experiential at this point -- and her favorites are carrots, peas and sweet potatoes. She likes to drive the spoon into her mouth, though she is still working on gauging depth.

She's also still not sleeping through the night. She goes down easily but we get to hang out with her frequently throughout the night. Jeffrey is now having to pitch in a bit so I don't get all "Fight Club" from sleep deprivation.

Other actually fun things she's doing include using her walker with near proficiency to chase the dogs and I suspect we'll have some crawling in the next few weeks. She needs just a little more arm strength and I think she'll be off. She can get a knee under, but it topples her onto her face. She doesn't seem to enjoy that.

She'll be 6-months-old on December 22, which I find astounding. For me, this has been the quickest feeling six months of my life.

GPaG's Visit

2011-11-27T15:22:00.001-08:00

Ada got a good dose of Husker logowear when Grandpa Terry flew into town for Thanksgiving. Here are a few shots from the visit!

So cute, it's worth posting again.

One of the "floats" at the light parade.

The Prepster! We called her Muffy all day in her green and pink ensemble.

That's an ATV under there!

Ready for the streets with her hoodie and cellie.

Walking Lucy.

"On the paper, not in your mouth." You can see she already decorated her face.

Ada's First Thanksgiving

2011-11-24T16:20:00.001-08:00

I whizzed a few of our dishes through the food processor for Ada. A little mashed potato, some peas -- which she loved, and some apples for dessert.

But of course, what first Thanksgiving would be complete without the shot of her wielding a turkey leg?

Her own thighs have gotten so large that in order to get her out of the Bumbo, it takes two people -- similar to the Winnie the Pooh story where he gets stuck in the hole. (We have the play tray that goes on it, but we've never been able to use it because her legs obstruct it.)

I think it is time to get a high chair... one with large leg openings!

Other Little Red

2011-11-23T11:02:00.001-08:00

Going to have to rethink my Thanksgiving menu now! Thank you Krouse group for my new mixer. I feel like a real grown up now with my very own Kitchen-Aid mixer!

(Red color not affiliated with the Nebraska Huskers or their fans)

Little Red

2011-11-23T11:01:00.001-08:00

Grandpa Terry is here! You can tell by Ada's new sweatshirt...

Beep beep!

2011-11-17T07:46:00.001-08:00

We brought home a walker for Ada to try out. She so badly wanted to be vertical, so we thought she'd like it. When we plunked her in it, though, her feet were a good three inches shy of touching the floor.

That was only a week ago.

All of a sudden on Tuesday she was able to touch a foot to the floor. Did she seriously grow that fast? Can't be. She must have figured out how to shift her weight. That or the sling in it stretched under her quickly becoming considerable mass.

She's really enjoying pushing herself around, though she can only go backwards and often this results in joy but also frustration as she zips under her own power away from the thing she was trying to get to.

She's getting really good at it! For the last two days she's only been using her left foot. This morning she was able to push off using her right. ~~The day she can touch both at once is going to be an exciting one~~. She figured out how to get both feet down at the same time, as you can now see in the video.

The wood floors haven't been great for the dogs, but they are going to be excellent for Ada to zip around on and as long as no one leaves the front door open, the main floor space is a safe room for her to do it in. Fortunately, we don't have a lot of tippy stuff on tables or anything since dog proofing at this stage is fairly similar to baby proofing.

Go, Ada, Go!

Beautiful or Useful?

2011-11-13T18:28:00.001-08:00

My dad had never seen an episode of Hoarders before, so while he was visiting, we Netflixed up season 1 and watched the first episode. Horrified and disturbed by the episode's particular hoarders -- piles of spoiled food in one house, piles of stuff in the other -- we both agreed we'd probably have to attack our respective homes immediately.

I'm not a hoarder. But I have stuff. Some days it feels like I have a lot of stuff. When we moved from Tucson to Phoenix, I methodically went through all of our belongings and discarded or donated a lot of said stuff.

The move from Phoenix to Prescott was not so organized since there was a newborn to deal with.

After the episode of hoarders though, I've recommitted myself to going through every little nook and cranny and removing the excess.

William Morris, a British craftsman and wordsmith, said:

"Have nothing in your houses that you do not know to be useful or believe to be beautiful.”

So that's the standard.

It is too easy to accumulate things. The fear of wastefulness so frequently has us tossing old rubber bands into a drawer only to find them disintegrated months later unused and it is so wrongheaded. What really should be the goal is to use up what we have, never bring anything in that isn't inspiring or extremely useful, and not attach too much emotion to objects.

That being said, I'm not a person who enjoys stark spaces. I love things. I love layers of things. But I also like organization. So part of my attack on the house is to take the detritus I deem beautiful but messy (photos, little decorative boxes, Ada's most special newborn clothes) and figure out ways to house them that don't feel like they are taking up more than their share of space.

Once I get it all together, we'll probably move again.

Today a huge garbage bag of my clothes, a smaller garbage bag of Ada's old clothes (she's getting so big!), and boxes of extra kitchen crap went off to Goodwill.

What will this week bring?!

Snow Day!

2011-11-07T07:05:00.000-08:00

This morning I woke up and the light outside seemed a bit ghostly. The rocks were reflecting the odd light and it turns out it is because it snowed! There was a thin blanket on Saturday -- just a whisper of snow. But this morning, the rocks and trees are boasting a much more substantial blanket--not Nebraska substantial, of course. It has been 8 years since I have seen snow in person!

Zombie Baby!

2011-10-28T08:26:00.000-07:00

A terrible pestilence is about to be unleashed throughout the world, unknowingly, through a sweet, innocent infant .... ZOMBIE BABY!!!!

She woke up this morning feeling a bit ... odd ... she didn't cry for her mommy ... not yet ... ZOMBIE BABY!

That's when the terrible hunger came over her. She wailed for her mother ... ZOMBIE BABY!

Good morning, my sweet! Are you going to give me a kiss?

THE HORROR! NO ZOMBIE BABY!!!!!!!!

Moving on to her next victim, her father, getting ready for work ... ZOMBIE BABY!!!!

Who will be her next victim ... it may be you!

ZOMBIE BABY!!!!!!

Reporting in...

2011-10-26T12:19:00.000-07:00

Ada is now four months old. Today she had her checkup and now, after great trauma, is sleeping soundly.

The report!
Weight: 14 lbs 2 oz
Height: 24.25 inches
Head circumference: 41.3 cm

She's apparently very average in all her measurements, which I see as being a very good thing!

So as some of you know, the two-month-old checkup didn't go smoothly for us. A different pediatrician told me that Ada may have craniosynostosis. Why did she think this? Well, Ada does have pronounced sutures on her skull ... After a lot of crying by me and four additional doctors unofficially manipulating her skull, the consensus was that there was nothing wrong.

Dr. Hinton confirmed that today. He said, "She has a beautiful head!"

So there, crappy other pediatrician with the stupid boring Band-Aids.

One of the things I pestered Dr. H about today was her sleeping. She doesn't do much of it. At night she wakes up about every two hours and seemed like she was starving. He said she probably was! Some babies just have big appetites, so guess who gets to try out some new foods? I wasn't given any rules, just the thumbs up to let Ada start trying rice meal, fruits and veggies.

A week ago I let her suck on an apple slice and she seemed delighted, so I think I'll puree a bit of honeycrisp apple for her later today and see how she feels about it.

Woo!

This is not good ...

2011-10-19T20:10:00.000-07:00

Ada is now back to 100% after a quick cold. And what does she decide to do? Work on crawling and coming dangerously close to coordinating her efforts.

Thankfully, she's only getting the back end and the front end isn't scooching.

Weren't we supposed to get more time with a sackapotatoes kid? She'll be clicking over to month four next week. This is looking way too close to crawling for my taste. Going to have to hobble her.

Understand, the total meltdown at the end is part frustration, part pure exhaustion as she'd been at this for about 15 minutes while we ate our dinner.

Sick to death of being sick

2011-10-18T09:09:00.000-07:00

Ada and I have both been enjoying a cold.

You know what isn't a good idea?

A sick mommy.

Sick mommies have trouble keeping it together and running on little sleep (plus they can't get better without sleep, pffft ... who came up with this system!!!).

Okay, well, dealing with a sick baby hasn't been that bad since Ada is a superstar sick baby. She never really got horribly icky like I did. Just a little cute, phlegmy cough. I took her over to the doc to make sure there wasn't some new miracle infant cold cure (there isn't) and to make sure it really was just a little cold (it was) and away we went home again. Ada has been in a great mood and although she sounds like a pug when she breathes and snores like her GPaG Terry in miniature when she sleeps, she's still having a lovely time.

I, on the other hand, am not making much headway. I've even pulled out the neti pot and done a little saline irrigation on the nose parts trying to help eradicate the symptoms (I know the symptoms are part of the fight against the cold virus, but they suck and I want my head back.)

Jeffrey has not been afflicted, fortunately. He rarely gets sick and when he does, he thinks he's dying.*

Today, however, I feel like fighting. I WILL NOT HAVE THIS COLD ANY LONGER! OUT DAMN SPOT! (wait, wrong play...)

I have coffee, Hostess Donettes -- chocolate covered, and many boxes of tissues. YOU ARE GOING DOWN, COLD!

Now if I could just get a nap...

*Jeffrey had a fever once a few years ago and kept saying, "this can't be normal sick, are you sure I don't need to go to urgent care?" I gave him some meds and he was fine within 45 minutes. Death averted!

In Ada news:

She can now assist in holding her own bottle -- though she often ends up with it in her ear,
She is tentatively taking "steps" -- if you hold her up and give her a little nudge forward, she slowly marches right-left-right,
She can also now rollover from her back to her tummy and when she is on her tummy she doesn't panic. There is some pre-crawl beetling of the arms and legs, but fortunately she hasn't figure it out yet. However, she can only roll to the right. Like Zoolander, she isn't an ambi-turner,
She has added the Beach Boys's "Barbara Anne" to her song list as well as me singing Iron Man while making her toys head bang. Her taste in music is bizarre, and
Her new favorite toy is a stuffed chicken. There is nothing funnier than a baby clutching a fairly regulation-sized stuffed chicken.

Awayness

2011-10-10T09:28:00.000-07:00

We've been pretty busy the last few weeks. Ada traveled to Colorado Springs for The Last Gautreaux Boy wedding.

We didn't take pictures of the actual wedding, and hopefully someone will send us some so we can remember the lovely event.

We DID take pictures of Ada and a little semi-impromptu family portrait.

Also, while we were gone, my brother, Eric, stayed with the dogs. He was able to stay over a few extra days and so I put him to work babysitting Ada while I visited the dermatologist (another precancerous spot, man, the sun HATES me!) and he snapped a lot of her making faces. My dad is constantly amazed at how quickly her facial expressions shift across her face. Eric did a great job illustrating this point: these pics were taken within seconds of each other.

Ten years, man! TEN!

2011-09-22T09:46:00.000-07:00

Really only three months. THREE MONTHS, MAN! THREE MONTHS!

I cannot CANNOT fathom our life without Ada. I wouldn't want to. This little chicken is so much fun to be with (usually) and her smile is my favorite thing of all times.

Three months. She's drooling, talking, beating the shit out of her play bridge, and loves the sound of pages turning in books. She's working on laughing and shrieking. Her gas passing makes her upset. And amazingly, she's starting to reach for things, and when you hand them to her, she'll grab them and bring them to herself. Her face lights up when she sees Jeffrey and her favorite song right now is "You Are My Sunshine" and she even tries singing along. She's as tone deaf as Jeffrey and I!

We love you. Maybe not that shriek though. Dude, that is LOUD.

Ada, this morning, on her three month anniversary.

Jiggety, jig!

2011-09-19T09:10:00.000-07:00

Ada and I successfully visited Cary! She's great little traveler.

We left on Thursday at 1:45 a.m. for the airport in Phoenix and Ada, although she didn't sleep the whole time (I could hear some telltale "I'm awake and I have my hand in my mouth!" sucking sounds. It sounds kind of like zombies eating brains...), she was quiet and happy in her carseat all the way from Prescott to Phoenix.

The ErgoBaby carrier we have was great for navigating the airport. Once in it, she would happily look around, lick the sides of it, and occasionally snooze as I hopped airport shuttles, found gates, got annoyed with the counter clerks, etc. She charmed just about every stranger she met with her chatting, smiling, and angelic little sleeping face. We only had a little wingeing in Charlotte on the in when the plane was delayed. Since other people were far more cranky about it, I thought she did pretty well!

Seeing family in NC was great. It was wonderful getting to see her hang out with my dad, sleep in Eric's arms, try on Lindsay's hair, and talk to my mom (the two of them were quite chatty while driving places). Ada also got to meet her great grandmother.

While there we did some shopping, went to watch a horse show, and went out to the barn to see Jack. Jack was pretty unsure about the little monster that had shown up, so we kept the two separated. Maybe next time she and Jack will be a little more comfortable with each other.

It was a great visit and it was amazing what a wonderful baby we have. She also slept well while we were there and there were a lot of loving arms willing to snuggle the baby so I had a lovely little vacation as well!

Maybe red would be a good look for her!

Manicures with Marc

Generation gap-- Edith's first visit with Ada

Ada sleeping in Susan's arms

Ada looking gorgeous in the hat Lindsay made for her.

Hanging at the barn

"Oh stewardess, I speak jive."

2011-09-13T07:35:00.000-07:00

Very early Thursday morning, Ada and I take flight together for the first time. I've been preparing for our airplane trip to North Carolina since the day I bought the tickets.

Everyone has experienced screaming babies on planes. I've always felt bad for the parents on the plane with the inconsolable child. I've never felt like they weren't doing their best to calm them.

I hope I have nice people sitting next to me. Ada is generally a pretty calm customer, but when she gets overtired and overstimulated, there are only a few things (so far) that seem to help calm her down -- and those aren't guaranteed.

Who knows what I'll get? Honestly, I'm actually looking forward to the flight. There are few times during the day that I get to just sit with her and hang out peacefully -- no cell phones, work, dogs, or household chores waiting to be done. Just Ada and I camped out in our little seat wishing people wouldn't bring stinky food on planes.

The flight is from Phoenix to Charlotte and then a quick jump to Raleigh. That will give us a good chunk of time to just sit and hang out. I think it will be great. She'll get to sleep in the car ride down and though I anticipate the airport jaunts will probably be pretty cranky, once on the plane and settled, I'm guessing Ada will get bored, eat a bit, and then fall asleep to the soothing tones of the jet engines.

It's going to be an interesting trip!

Once we get to NC, Ada and my dad will finally meet in person! I'm pretty excited about that. We'll also get to see Edith and the rest of the relatives as well and a photo op is planned with Jack the Horse.

Looking forward to it! I hope my enthusiasm is enough to keep me resilient against crying babies, evil eyes, exhaustion and dirty diapers!

Hoping this isn't a trend

2011-09-09T05:38:00.000-07:00

It is 5:30 a.m. and I've been up since 4 a.m. And every two-hour increment before that since 9 p.m. when we started this whole "sleeping" plan (we start the "go to bed" sequence around 8 p.m.)

I hope that we return to our regular schedule of sleeping until 2:30 a.m. in a chunk so that I don't die.

Mornings, well I guess I should write that "mornings" can be a bit tough anyway as Ada usually wakes up around 2:30 a.m. for a feeding, then again at 4 a.m.

It really wouldn't be so bad (it's particularly nice when Ada gives me big grins -- I love that part) except that The Dogs think that if I get up at 4 a.m. it is close enough to morning for them to be fed and be taken for their morning ablutions. I disagree with them. It is also too early for me to seek out Jeffrey for them to convince. I can usually push them until 5 a.m. but then their joy wakes up Ada and I've got two food-obsessed dogs and a cranky baby. This is usually when I have to knock Jeffrey out of his slumber to help.

Today I'm going to be tired and I don't really think a nap is going to be fit in to the day's schedule. This is particularly unfortunate because tonight Jeffrey and I are leaving Ada in the care of someone and are going to a fancy benefit gala with his law firm. I'm going to be gorgeous! Pass me that Benefit Erase Paste as I now need to coat my entire face in it ...

Of course all the 4 a.m. slap-happy dogs are now sleeping soundly again.

At least Ada has the good sense to be wide awake and playing in her gym to make me feel like I'm not just a dupe :)

Good morning!!!! *head desk*

EDIT: 5:50 a.m. Ada is now asleep again. I guess I'm going to sack out on the couch and try to catch a few winks ... *head couch*

Ada at Two Months

2011-08-23T16:32:00.000-07:00

On Monday, Ada celebrated being two months into her life! She went off for her well visit and ... dum dum DUM! ... SHOTS!

She clocked in at 9 lbs and 13 ounces, 22 inches long, and is doing all the developmental stuff babies do at her age -- though much of it was not verified by the doctor, so for all she knew I was lying (She can do math! I swear! In fact, she's the president of that organization!)

Her shots were deployed into her little fat thighs, so just in case, I've agreed to not poke her in her Band-Aids. She, on her part, decided to sleep for the rest of the day and pretend it didn't happen.

We're a great team!

This morning she woke up pretty cheerful -- like she does most mornings because she is a baby and has no reason not to!

Ada and Sleeping

2011-08-19T09:29:00.000-07:00

One of the frequently asked questions is how Ada is sleeping. So I thought I would discuss her sleeping here for all to enjoy.

Ada sleeps. A lot. And often at night.

Our typical day goes like this:

5:30 a.m. -- Ada wakes up and I feed her. Dogs take this opportunity to run around like crazies antipicating their food. Often, I can't take the commotion and get Jeffrey to wake up and take care of the dogs while I attend to Ada.

5:45 a.m. -- Ada goes back to sleep in her swing so I get my coffee going, check my email, and browse the internets.

6:30 a.m. -- Ada wakes back up again, and depending on her mood, we change her and put her in her swing while Jeffrey reads her a book. Sometimes I take a shower now but often I like to just play with the baby -- she likes to practice her standing, sitting, crazy beetle-on-its-back legs, and hilarious comedy routine.

7:30-ish a.m. -- Ada is now tired of Jeffrey/Play Time and wants to eat again. So I feed her while drinking coffee and annoying Jeffrey with my prattling while he tries to catch up on sports blogs and such.

7:50 a.m. -- Jeffrey goes to work, Ada falls back to sleep, and I do a few chores, etc.

Ada sleeps from about 8 a.m. to 9:45 a.m.

9:45 a.m.. -- I log into work and nurse Ada while I peruse my inbox

10:15 a.m. -- Ada is back to sleep in her swing (which is next to my desk chair BTW) and I'm working away.

Noon -- Jeffrey pops home for lunch and I often have to wake Ada up for a little lunch herself. She's usually back to sleep by the time Jeffrey goes back to work.

3 p.m. -- Ada is usually ready for me to feed her again after an afternoon of sleeping and I'm usually not quite ready to do so as I'm usually not quite done with my work. So this is the most difficult time of the day. The dogs also want to go out. So it's a lot of beings wanting to do a whole bunch of stuff that isn't possible at the same time.

4 p.m. -- I feed the dogs while Ada usually hangs out on the floor watching everything.
Ada is sort of up and down after this. She'll hang out for a bit, get fussy, eat, fall asleep, wake back up again, rinse repeat.

7 p.m. -- Jeffrey gets home and plays with Ada while I do dinner. Or sometimes I'll nap a bit while he makes us food.

8 p.m. -- Ada is getting a little fussy, so it's my cue to put her to bed for the night. We go up to her room, I put on her Beatles Lullabye CD, swaddle her (she still wakes herself up with her arms so they have to be pinned down), and nurse her until she's so milk drunk she can't possibly keep her eyes open. She sleeps in her crib happily swaddled and additionally blanketed by a lovely blanket my aunt knitted for her that is the perfect weight to soothe a sleeping baby.

9:45 pm. -- If I'm not passed out yet, I'm just falling asleep.

3 a.m. -- Ada usually cries for a feeding. Once nursed, she goes right back to sleep. I take the dogs out and then we all go back to sleep.

Then it all starts again at 5:30 a.m.!

Life in Prescott: An Update

2011-08-19T09:10:00.000-07:00

We like to stick baby in the corner ... of the couch and make her practice her sitting.

Ada considers Shirley.

Welcome to Jerome!

That's Jerome, AZ, a town originally funded by copper mining and now by cute cafes and junk shops run by hippies.

Walking around Tuzigoot National Monument (Ada and I stayed in the car sleeping)

The Prescottonians!


Our friend Maria (connection, Jeffrey graduated from law school with her and her fiance Dave. My dad refers to them as "the rat people") is an official Cardinals cheerleader and the squad was in Prescott doing a little mini-practice at the YMCA.

Last weekend, Jeffrey's mom was here for a visit. Shirley visits mean lots of lasagna, often-confusing stories that somehow relate to people's deaths, and trips to fun places.

While she was here we headed to Jerome, AZ, a town that was developed around copper mining and at one point had the second-largest JC Penney in the country. Then it essentially fell down the mountainside -- as precariously perched mining towns often do when you build them over fault lines and then blast the shit out of the earth -- but was rebuilt and rejuvenated and

"includes a modicum of artists, craft people, musicians, writers, hermits, bed and breakfast owners, museum caretakers, gift shop proprietors and fallen-down-building landlords."

We also had lunch at the world famous Hog Wild Restaurant and the food was delicious -- though none of use took on the celebrated 1-pound pork chop sandwich. (I had the chicken philly -- it was amazingly good -- like, "let's go back and eat lunch at that place in Cottonwood" good).

Sunday we went to see our friend Maria do some cheering. She's a cheerleader for Arizona's NFL team, the Cardinals, and also a fellow law graduate. We felt a little weird standing around the YMCA gym watching half-naked girls jump around ... but it was really fun to see Maria do something she loves.

This is Jeffrey's second week of work and it is going well. He often pops home for lunch which is nice, and no one at the firm has completely shunned him yet!

I'm back at work and doing my normal work stuff and Ada has been amazingly accommodating -- she basically sleeps through the whole morning half of my work day, wakes up a bit for lunch with us, then goes back to sleep. What a good baby!

Lucy and Lily are liking the house. Lily likes to try to flush out the quail from the porch (poodles ARE hunting dogs after all...) and Lucy is doing really well on the stairs.

So life is good!

Lucy and the Stairs - A Story of Semi-Triumph! (no dogs die in this post)

2011-08-10T06:38:00.000-07:00

I'm a bad dog guardian. Maybe not bad, but I was selfish.

We've rented a townhouse (it's really nice!) that Lucy, our 13-year-old shepherd-collie mix, has trouble with because of the stairs. The townhouse is three stories and that means exterior stairs and interior stairs. No elevator. (For the record, there weren't a lot of viable rental options -- I'm not a total jerk.)

Lucy has never had a particularly correct back end. I've had vets tell me it is arthritis, some have told me she has knee damage, and a few have just said, "Hey, she's old."

Either way, she isn't particularly strong or steady on those hind legs. In her life, she and I have lived in a lot of places with stairs and I have to say that living on stairs for her, rather than being a life-shortener, have generally been a type of physical therapy for her, somehow working the right muscles to help her have better balance, strength, and confidence with her legs. In fact, she's been the weakest this past year when we lived in a house that had NO steps.

But ...

The exterior stairs of the house are painted wood. The paint on the wood has eroded over the years to provide a rough surface in places, but they are still a little slick. Tip for homeowners: NEVER PAINT YOUR OUTSIDE STAIRS UNLESS YOU PUT GRIT IN THE PAINT. Lucy was able to navigate them, though hesitantly, but the first night I just sat in bed thinking of the ice and snow that would make those stairs treacherous, not just for an old dog, but for the people in the house as well.

The next day we went and bought outdoor anti-slip traction tape. There are two kinds -- the harsh sandpaper stuff (like you use on skateboard decks) and the rubberized kind. We bought the rubberized kind because it felt a little less nasty for dog paws and bare feet (and it came in grey so it wasn't so obvious -- we're renting and don't want to get in trouble).

That has solved the outdoor problem.

The inside has been more difficult.

The inside is all Pergo laminate wood floor. Including the stairs (again, homeowners, take note that this is a HORRIBLE IDEA). It looks really nice but it's slippery as hell and there aren't really any excellent temporary anti-skid options that won't destroy the Pergo surface. One flooring guy I talked to (I did lots of research on this) put it best: "Any adhesive you lay down there, if it's doing it's job, is going to ruin the floors."

But it's impossible for Lucy to get up there.

Or so we thought.

The first few days we were here, she refused to go near them -- smart girl! -- and I resigned myself to having her sleep on the second floor while all of us were on the third (though I felt bad about it. Dogs are pack animals and it has to be hard to not get to sleep with your protective group).

I guess she didn't like being alone at night and after a week of muscle and confidence building going up and down the outside flight, she just went for it the other morning. At 4 a.m. we heard her slipping her way up the stairs. Going back down was such a disaster that I had to carry her. She's 65 lbs. That's about 50% of my body weight. Not a good combination -- slick stairs, awkwardly carried heavy dog, weak owner.

And now she just doesn't seem to be putting it together that she can't do the stairs. She got up them, by Jove, she can do it again! *head desk*

So last night I helped/carried her upstairs (I'm a terrible softie and a terrible dog trainer -- no resolve) and decided I'd figure it out in the morning.

And guess what! I did! I snapped awake at 4:30 a.m. with a plan! We had a 5' x 8' rug gripper. One of those giant sticky things that looks like a giant cheesecloth (not the felt kind). I cut it in half length-wise and worked my way down the stairs, giving each step a little wiggle with my hands to make sure it was really tucked in between the treads and risers.

It worked. Lucy was able to get down the stairs, unaided, on the rug gripper!

I realize this is not the perfect solution. And yes, it will probably end up stretching and slipping and needing to be replaced and I'll vigilantly keep an eye on it so that it doesn't go from "helpful" to "death trap," BUT, it worked and so for as long as it works we'll have a happier dog. When it stops working, I'll just replace the rug gripper with a new one.

And if you squint, it kind of looks like sisal.

Granite Creek Walk

2011-08-06T11:27:00.000-07:00

This morning we headed out to try out a Prescott nature walk.

We parked at one of the trail heads to the greenway (which also serves as some kind of transient/bum ephemeral restaurant), gave a little wave to The Citizens of the Trailhead, and trekked along the creek path.

The path is, according to the map, about a mile and a half. It was a nice shady walk and was doable while carrying Ada, zonked out, in the ErgoBaby.

Nature!

Little hiker, complete with coffee stain!

Part of the trail loops around a big beautiful park I'm sure Ada will enjoy when she can toddle/run/escape. The rest of it moseys along the creek toward the downtown area. We got to see the advertised "creekside" dining areas and many of them look very pleasant!

We also came across some industrious types pounding tools into the dirt. I asked them what they were up to and they are apparently literally just breaking ground on the first Prescott community garden. That might be something fun to join up with in the spring!

Part of the walk also included some river art -- one with a sign that invited you up a flight of steps and 17 paces to the right to view it. This is the river dragon.

River dragon, carved out of a dead tree.

It was a great morning walk -- Ada made the "to" leg sleeping happily the "back" leg was mostly cranky baby. Oh well!

The Last Six Weeks ...

2011-08-03T14:01:00.000-07:00

So apparently it was six weeks ago that I blogged ... in that time, I've had a baby and moved to a different city. Rather than bore you with the mundane prattling normally found here, I bring you a photo scrap book of The Last Six Weeks!

Several hours before Ada was born, I demonstrate my wry wit along with my heart rate monitor.

Ada Elizabeth Gautreaux, 7-22-2011, 7:35 p.m., 7 lbs 8.6 oz, mommy had ALL the drugs.

Jeffrey holding his daughter for the first time.

Ada, showing us what she thinks of us.

Sleeping!

Ada in a duckie towel after one of her first baths.

Grandpa Rinne holding his great granddaughter.

Who's tired?

Ada, a few weeks in, giving us a typical Ada Face -- she really is sitting up in that corner of the chair all by herself.

At Zinburger with Terry -- he basically packed our whole house.

Lucy in her chair, hemmed in by all the boxes. Lucy has moved ten times in her life. She's a pro.

Ada looking bored with us ... again.

The truck is so big, it doesn't fit in the frame. It also completely obscures our Phoenix house behind it. And yes, Jeffrey drove it all by himself and no one was killed! (I won't mention the incident with the giant rock.)

The view from our deck in Prescott.

Lucy enjoying the view from one of our decks in Prescott.

Sunset at Watson Lake in Prescott.

Ada, finally not bored by us. I think she enjoys living in Prescott!

Countdown begins!

2011-06-21T10:23:00.000-07:00

Looks like the baby should make an appearance sometime on Wednesday. I check into the hospital tonight at 8:30 p.m. and begin the inducing process. The drip to spur contractions will start Wednesday morning. I'm assuming the pain killers and antibiotics will start then, too.

We're so excited to finally know she's on her way! We were starting to think the pregnancy was a fake :)

3 Days Past Due Date

2011-06-18T12:16:00.000-07:00

I don't know what she's doing in there, maybe trying to go for record-breaking weight?

Jeffrey and I are going to go stay the afternoon and night up the road at a local hotel so we can go swimming and just generally relax. My mom is visiting, and she said she'd stay here and take care of the dogs.

I'm huge -- not everywhere -- which isn't really that great. Maybe it would be more normal looking if I'd gained weight in places other than my belly? My maternity clothes don't fit over the bump.

*sigh*

Any day now, right?! Right.

Since October 7th...

2011-06-15T06:39:00.000-07:00

On October 7th, 2010, I took a little test. Then I took two more. Then I called Jeffrey. Our future now included the tick box "parents."

Fortunately on October 8th, 2010, Jeffrey got the results of his own little test and his future now ALSO included the tick box "licensed attorney." Whew.

Today marks the 40th week on this baby baking. I'm officially on maternity leave from work, my mom and I have sewn just about every project under the sun, and Jeffrey keeps asking me, "any action yet?" while poking at my belly. He also keeps mentioning how enormous my belly is -- which would be offensive, I suppose, but since my belly IS enormous it's hard to feel particularly bad about it.

Also, while my mom and I have been running errands and recreational shopping (mostly the window, not the buying kind) it's been fun watching people's facial expressions when they ask me when I'm due and I get to say things like, "tomorrow."

I had a checkup yesterday and everything is fine. Baby's heartbeat is strong and even, my weight gain is still "perfect," and the baby is locked and loaded correctly.

And now we wait. Patiently. Sort of ...

*yawn*

Asbestos -- More sinister than we thought

2011-06-09T12:41:00.000-07:00

Well, the townhouse rental has fallen through. Drat.

Here's the story:

The lady who was going to rent us the townhouse was doing so because she and her elementary school-aged daughter were moving into their new home.

This morning, our wouldhavebeen landlady called with a sad tone to her voice, her house deal fell apart. The seller wouldn't allow the asbestos inspector in -- because, most likely, the house has asbestos. Then she broke the contract. Apparently now she's not taking phone calls.

So sad for us. But we'll find something else -- possibly even in the same community. But more sad for our very nice wouldhavebeen landlady and her daughter who had waited and hoped for this house.

Drat on all of it. Stupid asbestos.

No More Than Two More Weeks

2011-06-07T09:58:00.000-07:00

At my weekly checkup today everything was declared "perfect!" and also declared "not coming any day soon!"

So we are now at 39 weeks. One more week to due date. The belly has gone from feeling like one of those bears-in-the-balloon you win at the fair to "baby stuck in dry cleaner bag."

There's just no more room at the inn.

The doc said Ada only gets up to two more weeks and then she's not allowed to stay in there any longer. You naturalists out there probably think that's rushing it. But I've gained 32 pounds and it's only on my front and I'm getting a little uncomfortable lugging this kid around on my insides. I'm ready for her to try her ErgoBaby carrier on the OUTSIDE.

In other news, we found a place to rent in Prescott.

Boulder Park Townhome. Gated. Corner unit. Dogs allowed. About two blocks from Jeffrey's office. Going to be 100-degrees in Phoenix today. 74 in Prescott. Prescott for the WIN!

My mom and I have been putting appliques on onesies. So far? This is my best applique. The horse body actually wraps around to the back!

Print silhouette on freezer paper, iron to desired fabric square, iron to iron-on lightweight fusing square, cut out image, iron on to onesie. Bask in glory of how awesome it turned out. Consider adding embroidery thread mane. Reject idea because it's just so perfect as it is.

Memorial Day 2011

2011-05-30T18:29:00.000-07:00

I realized this morning that this is the last day off that Jeffrey and I would spend together as just the two of us.

We decided we should enjoy it by getting bagels to feast on and heading out to Chapparal Park in Scottsdale and feeding the ducks some leftover bread.

By Wednesday of this week I'll be 38 weeks and, although I'd like Ada baby to wait until next week at least to make an appearance, who knows! I mean, look at that size of that bump!

Monster belly!

Jeffrey pinging the ducks with bread

Tonight we grilled hamburgers and corn on the cob for dinner. We handed Lily and Lucy our cobs as an experiment. Lucy took hers away, gave it a few game bites and rejected it. Lily actually worked on hers, removing little bits of remnant corn, even flipping it over to get at some particularly good ones. Maybe she isn't as dumb as we thought...

Tomorrow, back to the grind. Thursday my mom shows up! Friday she and I are going to head up to Prescott so I can show her our new city and we'll check out a few potential places to live. Friday can only happen if the baby stays INSIDE. STAY INSIDE ADA BABY!

But just in case, our bags are packed, the car seat has been installed, and we're ready for her to arrive when she's ready ... just wait a bit, 'k baby?

Another eventful summer ahead...

2011-05-21T21:04:00.000-07:00

Late spring has been a time of significant change for me for a decade now. I'm always having some major life event, moving, switching jobs, and sometimes doing all three at once. Let's take a look at the time line.

Ten years ago, about this time, I was starting my first job in Elizabeth City, North Carolina.

Seven years ago, about this time, I was just settling into my new job at The Sun in Yuma.

Four years ago, about this time, Jeffrey and I got married and then moved to Tucson from Yuma for him to start law school.

One year ago, about this time, Jeffrey had just graduated from law school and we prepared to move to Phoenix for Jeffrey to begin his clerkship at the State Court of Appeals.

Now this year, at this time, we're waiting patiently to start our new status as parents AND preparing to move (AGAIN! I KNOW!) from Phoenix to Prescott for Jeffrey to join a law firm there as an associate.

In the last 5-6 years ...

I've held 6 different positions with my employers:
Copy Editor/Page Designer
Special Sections Designer
Art Director
Publishing Services Specialist
Marketing Assistant
Account Manager

I've prepared to move 4 times:
Yuma city to Foothills
Foothills to Tucson
Tucson to Phoenix
Phoenix to Prescott

No wonder I'm exhausted!

Me, looking exhausted and like I have a major weight problem, walking a trail at Watson Lake in Prescott, AZ while one million months (36.5 weeks) pregnant. We were in the town to check out neighborhoods because, that's right! We're moving again! Looking forward to staying put for a few years...

"And I want Enya"

2011-05-14T07:55:00.000-07:00

Last week my dad and I were talking and he was surprised that they were not doing additional ultrasounds before Ada arrived. My understanding is that unless there is something wrong with you, which my pregnancy is beyond textbook perfect so no one is worried, they don't do more ultrasounds because the insurance companies won't cover them.

I made the mistake of mentioning that there were non diagnostic clinics that offered ultrasounds and by the end of our chat I was scheduled for a 3D ultrasound experience at a Phoenix office.

The office provides 3D imaging and 4D recording (this is fancy "sounds like science" for video of the 3D imaging). They'll even set the video to music.

"I want Enya."
"Ok, I'll ask if they can do that."
Shit. They can. If you bring in a CD. This means I have to purchase Enya. *head desk*

Jeffrey wasn't able to come along, but my friend Jessie was bored at work and decided to take a "lunch appointment" with me to discuss "publishing" while we ate defrosted mini eclairs and a tech smeared ultrasound goo on my belly.

And then there was Ada.

Now of course this is 3D imaging, so how close it actually looks to what is in there is debatable, and Jessie and I joked that they probably just had some random imaging recorded a while back that they looped for duped parents, but since every time they tried to get a shot of her face, she'd block it with her arms and the movements corresponded to the movements going on in my body, I can only assume 1. It's really the kid 2. She is already practicing her "no paparazzi" hand gestures. 3. She does not like her space invaded by ... well ... anything (when I sneeze I can feel her roll and adjust in what feels to me like disgust that she has to share a body with me. Kid, you have no idea how I look forward to having you out in the word and I get my vital organ space back.

It was kind of cool and I'm glad I did it. I know lots of people like the old school birth surprises -- seeing what their baby looks like, what gender it is, etc., the day she comes into the solo oxygen-breathing world. I, on the other hand, kind of like peeking in there and seeing what her world was like beforehand.

Here are a few more "shots." She has huge cheeks apparently (which I attribute to her being puffed up with fluid in preparation for the birthing and my dad attributes to me having big cheeks) and really long fingers. And as far as I can tell from her 3D expressions, she doesn't like being bothered while she's napping. She just looks pissed. So obviously this little girl is genetically related to me.

Just hoping we'll go away.

Hand over face. Look how long those digits are!

STOP POKING AT ME!

Playing with my stick

2011-04-30T12:26:00.000-07:00

Jeffrey turned 30 on Thursday. As a life milestone, he thought he was ready to give manual transmission driving another go.

We tried this is my Honda Civic several years ago and the parking lot time went well, but on the road? Well, let's just say it's been a few years since I was willing to try this again. The little red car is a bit easier to drive, though a bit diminutive for a 6'4" human, but I thought, we can at least try.

So this morning, I had him read the CarTalk guys' guide to driving stick shift. Then he watched this video here.

Then we hit the church parking lot.

Two hours later? Cruising the Biltmore area of Phoenix.

The Pursuit of Perfection

2011-04-04T17:13:00.000-07:00

I am not a perfectionist. I am kind of bossy and controlling ... but I'm not a perfectionist. These dynamics are what make me so, um, fun to be around?

Today I did Pillow Project No. 2: Make new pillow cover to replace scratchy Ikea pillow cover for couch.

Not only did PPN2 have all-around trim, it had a zipper AND the fabric is reversible -- one side of it has a blue background and the flip (the correct side ... the fact that I can reverse it is just a happy accident) has a cream background.

This is a lot of scheming for my brain. I'm sure this is an easy project for many (most!) people, but for me, trying to figure out which part goes where, how to pin it, and what the engineering should be is nearly impossible. Then add in a machine that likes to jam when asked to do hard labor (like zippers, trim, and upholstery weight fabric), a sewer who is prone to needle breakage (*waves*) and, well, watch out because I'm an effing volcano ready to explode.

So when everything turned out exactly as planned, I knew it was too good to be true.

Thankfully, it was only the zipper I screwed up. It's inside out. A perfectionist would have ripped out the seams and flipped the zipper. I, so afraid to screw up all the goodness I had already accomplished, decided, "What the shit, we'll get it off if we need to!" And proceeded on.

Because I'm not a perfectionist, but I'm impatient as hell.

Blue and white with yellow trim!

If the poodle likes it 20 seconds after flopping it on the couch, you know it's good stuff.

Enhance on trim!

Cream background side. I'm leaving the picture of the forest green, upside down zipper to your imagination!

Weekend Sewing Projects and a Bump Picture

2011-04-03T10:55:00.000-07:00

Jeffrey and I decided to go out for a little Sunday morning bicycle ride through expensive neighborhoods today. Their speed bumps were handily labeled for witty pregnancy photos.

Also this weekend I did a few sewing projects.

First I recovered the desk chair:

Then I made a pillow cover out of an Anthropologie dish towel and some extra fabric I had:

And finally this morning I got around to making a crib sheet for Ada's crib:

The crib sheet should have been the easiest project. 2 yards of 45" width fabric, two 23" pieces of 1/4" elastic, and then sew according to this tutorial I found. Had a little trouble with the tutorial instructions for the elastic and ended up have to rip out my end seams and start over with my own plan. My way was WAY easier. I can now churn out crib sheets like a spider monkey!

27 weeks

2011-03-17T13:05:00.000-07:00

So I decided it was stupid that just because neither Jeffrey nor I really take a lot of photos that we didn't have a picture of me at least looking a bit pregnant. I took this using the 10 second delay on our PowerShot.

Best Time of Year in Southern Arizona

2011-03-17T07:15:00.000-07:00

One of the grapefruit trees in the backyard planning its slow torture of me.

Jeffrey and I both woke up with the telltale twinge and sniffle. The citrus trees are budding and blooming! Smells so good, looks so pretty ... now please pass me a aaaaaachoooo ... tissue.

NC and Baby Updates

2011-03-15T09:52:00.000-07:00

The last trip until September has been taken! Now we're home for a while, which will make the dogs very happy.

The girls did not like the kennel but this last trip, my friend Jessie stayed with them and they seemed much happier. North Carolina was good. Little cold for my now Arizona-acclimated blood, but it was nice to see the new puppy and go to the barn with my mom.

My friend Lena came down with her son Levi, who is 2 1/2, and Levi and the puppy were perfect playmates. We just put a couple extra shirts on him so that the puppy's playful nipping didn't give him too much to cry about and the two of them ran around the house like the cards in the unending race from Alice and Wonderland.

My mom and I went through the baby clothes she saved from me and I brought a few choice adorable ones back for the kid as well as several new items that no one could resist. Baby clothes are just plain cute.

My dad has entitled this, "Kat? Am I doing this right?"

Ducks on the pond. Spring is springing!

Levi out for a walk. Lena, get that kid some binocs!

Louie, otherwise known as Squee, on the porch with my dad. He can't figure out why he didn't get to go around the pond with his buddy.

My mom shows Levi how to handle the sand excavator

Kat? Am I doing this right?

This week I am 27 weeks pregnant. The kid is pretty active in there and if you happen to look at my belly at just the right moment, you can see her thumping around. It's a little weird.

I had a checkup today and according to the medical people, everything is perfect. I'm gaining the right amount of weight (now 20 lbs which seems INSANE to me and it's only going to increase!), baby's heartbeat is excellent, bump size is textbook, and my blood pressure is normal. So everything is pretty boring.

I'm still riding and doing prenatal yoga, which the docs encourage me to keep doing, and they think I should get a massage for my leg thing I keep whining about.

It's heating up in Arizona and the days are sunny. Couldn't ask for better!

Vegas.

2011-03-07T08:37:00.000-08:00

Well, we made it back in one piece. It was slow driving up on Friday night because of the traffic in Phoenix, but we finally got there!

We had a nice time seeing Elliott and Katie and Keith and Shaleah. I'd never been to Vegas before and, well, frankly, I probably won't go back again for a long time. I just had too much trouble understanding why there is a giant building shaped like New York with a roller coaster. I don't think that place was built for cynics like me.

We stayed at the Trump Tower hotel and that was pretty nice. It is agreed that giant jetted soaker tubs should be standard in all bathrooms. The pool time was lovely and included some ghastly Euro trash in their little thongs and lots of plastic surgery making out/possibly having sex in the double chair next to us. Every good poolside visit needs a villainous Euro trash couple!

I think the most fun was at the Rio for their buffet on Sunday. Here is a picture of Jeffrey looking more radiantly happy than I've seen him in a while:

And here is me pretending a tiger mauled my face. Sorry it's blurry. Night time Vegas photography is not really our forte. Or maybe it is. Maybe this gives the, "I've hit every bar down The Strip" double vision dose of reality for most people's Vegas vacations.

Vegas Count:
1. One Euro trash couple at the pool we collectively were disgusted with
2. One entitled American lady who yelled at them because "there were kids around"
3. One very tall and slender Yoda walking with his light saber down the strip
4. One set of Beavis and Butthead characters that didn't appear to be actually working but just sitting on a wall
5. One grandpa type who tripped and fell and ripped open the back of his head in front of the Mirage
6. One package of travel tissues sacrificed to bloodied man in front of the Mirage

Don't eat the baby

2011-03-02T13:29:00.000-08:00

Today a Manny Randazzo ( of The Original Randazzo Family) King Cake was delivered to our house. I~~'m assuming this is from TG -- thanks TG~~! It's from Lindsey and Brent! Thanks Lindsey and Brent! (apparently these are some cousin types I haven't met.)

I texted Jeffrey and told him of its arrival.
He texted back, "Do you like king cake? Have you ever had it?"
I responded, "Never had it. My maiden name is Krouse. Today my dad sent me a picture of his liverwurst sandwich."
To which Jeffrey replied, "Don't eat the baby."

Don't eat the baby. Words to live by.

Tying the Room Together

2011-02-27T09:31:00.000-08:00

Yesterday we went to Ikea for a few things: some inexpensive green rugs for the floor, a bed frame, and some pillow inserts (not pictured as they are for a future project and are stashed in the closet).

Last night Jeffrey and I put the rugs down and get the bed together. The furniture portion of the room is now nearly complete (that side table with the lamp is not staying there). The crib is behind me and isn't yet photogenic, so I'll wait to show that part until it's a little more visually interesting. Cribs never really are that interesting though, particularly because I'm against crib bumpers and such.

The bed is the Ikea Fjellse which, in a twin, is only $49 for the frame and slats. It raises up the box spring and mattress to a height where I won't topple over when trying to carefully sit on the bed with the kid in the middle of the night. Normal people usually do the glider thing, but with a poodle that will also want to join me for night feedings, and occasional guests or me needing to sleep in there, the single bed seemed like a better way to go. The Fjellse comes in an untreated wood finish, so at some point I'll surely treat it with paint, but for now, you can't really even see it, and I'm exhausted today and our travel schedule for the next month is a bit hectic -- so painting won't be happening for a bit.

Next projects to finish include making some wall art and creating pillow covers for the Ikea inserts that are stashed in the closet.

And, you know, finishing up the baby baking.

Dresser Project

2011-02-25T07:20:00.000-08:00

Before

I bought this dresser at an antique and estate sale shop. I liked it in black but the extra bedroom, which is going to be Ada's room, is in the back corner of the house and the citrus trees block a lot of the indirect light the room may get. So to brighten things up, I painted the dresser with Martha Stewart's Aegean Blue in eggshell.

After

In person, it's a bit more saturated in hue -- at least on my monitor.

What I used:

1 used dresser
cheapo drop cloth to protect the floor
medium grade sanding paper on a block
1 4" foam roller
1 1.5" angled brush for the tight spots
one coat of Zinnser Bulls Eye 1-2-3 All Surface Primer
2 coats Martha Stewart Paint in Aegean Blue - eggshell finish
Knobs - Anthropologie

What I should have done differently:

More sanding on the drawer pull areas (the only part I sanded). The paint job the dresser came with was done with the pulls on, so there was paint buildup around the edges which I sanded down. I wasn't sure I was going to reattach the pulls, otherwise, I would have just left them on and painted around them.

Tips:

Tie your hair back if it is longer.
If you use a brush, make sure the hairs aren't leaving the head and lodging themselves in your paint.
After you put your drawers back in to take a picture, immediately take them back out again so they don't cure in place (thanks for saving my ass, dad!)
Keep a damp rag with you to immediately hit spots that shouldn't have paint on them.

If you turn it on it's side, it kind of looks like Hitchcock!

2011-02-10T09:36:00.000-08:00

TERRY! Spoiler alert! It has a head!

Today I went for an ultrasound and here's the picture of the kid at 22 weeks. And it is definitely a girl. Or a boy with some issues...

I realize my posts have become a little babycentric, so here's an update on non baby news:

My dad is here visiting for the week and leaves tomorrow. This weekend in Phoenix it is supposed to hit about 76 degrees. In Raleigh? It's snowing.

Jeffrey is still clerking for the judge and, as he goes off everyday without complaining, I can only assume he likes it.

I'm working remotely still and things are pretty much just ho-hum.

The dogs are doing well. The other day we took them for a walk and just a few minutes after getting back to the house one of Lucy's paws swelled up to about the size of a tennis ball. Benadryl was dosed and by morning her paw was normal again. We have no idea what got her.

Pregnancy Update: 50 Percent Baked

2011-01-27T10:45:00.000-08:00

Today it is officially 20 weeks and the bean has completed half of the "trying to be human" course. Keep going bean!

Pregnant Yogis or "I'm not like you people, but you seem friendly enough"

2011-01-13T08:01:00.000-08:00

Last night I returned to the prenatal yoga class for the second week. The class was a bit smaller as several of the participants from last week had birthed their kid and transitioned out of the class.

At the beginning of class we go around and say who we are, when we're due, and how we are feeling physically/emotionally/spiritually. Normally I would think this was a waste of time, but when you are pregnant, it IS kind of nice to get to vent what's going on to people who aren't just thinking, "Shut up, pregnancy has been going on forever and you are not a special snowflake," which was my attitude when I wasn't pregnant.

However, as we go around, it is continually underscored for me that I should not truly share because I Am Not Like These Women.

I jokingly told one girl, who is about as far along as me, that towards the end when we couldn't take it anymore, we could make a pact to secret punch the other one in the side to spur on the labor. She looked at me, eyes gleaming, and said, "oh, I want to embrace every moment of this and cherish it." Later in class, during a pose, she started weeping.

Another girl shared that she was trying to bring all the good energy in to her and she was excited that her tub arrived. For clarification, that would be her birthing tub. For her home birth. In a tub.

Ew. How do you clean that thing afterward? Do you store it in the garage? Do you sell it on Craigslist?

It is really nice being around a bunch of pregnant women who are educated, excited, and there to smile and relax. But I don't think I can have coffee with them. For one, I'm pretty sure they've totally shunned coffee because it could have negative effects on the pregnancy.

When I mentioned I was still riding horses and that a challenging lesson on Monday seemed to be causing some residual pain in my shoulder, even the teacher was like, "Wait, you mean you are riding horses?" The room was pretty quiet and my sharing time felt cut a bit short.

I'm more from the "women have been doing this for centuries and I'm pretty sure I can handle this" camp. I'm not having a home birth (at least not on purpose), I'm welcoming any drug at the hospital they offer me, and I am not under any delusion that being pregnant is particularly fun. It's interesting in a science experiment kind of way and I'm delighted that I can feel the little bean wiggly around in there (or it's gas, but gas is not as cute as thinking Flipper is in there doing tricks). However, I'm pretty sure by week 34 I'll be over it and the back pain, constant need to pee, and lung compression will no longer be the "cherishable" experience my little yoga friend is hoping for.

Right now it's just an excuse to buy really cute stuff.

And I'm drinking coffee (and eating junk food. and soft cheeses). Not excessive amounts and generally within the agreed upon scientific community's levels of safety for sane pregnancy. Usually.

I'm an enthusiastic pragmatist: I know this baby is going to change our lives forever in mostly the best possible ways. I just think this whole incubation period is kind of part of the process and wearing a little lipstick to yoga is not weird or somehow against the process and that it's OK to not need to overcome this challenge by being tough: I think you get through it by being smart -- not by meditating, taking probiotics, or submerging yourself in warm water.

Or maybe I'm just a jerk :)

I can no longer sleep directly on my stomach

2010-12-28T06:42:00.000-08:00

My dad asked me why I hadn't blogged anything about the pregnancy.

I guess part of it was laziness but the other part was just because I don't know how interested anyone really is. I mean, every time I point at my little tummy protrusion, someone takes that moment to point out that their stomach still sticks out a lot more than mine.

When someone asks, "How are you feeling?" I can see them brace themselves for the horrors of my pregnancy symptoms. But I'm fine. I've been fine. No horrible morning sickness. No real "hit by a truck" exhaustion. It ends up being a short, fairly boring conversation.

They ask then, if Jeffrey and I are excited. "Yes we are!" Also a short conversation.

Thin pregnant women with few symptoms and who are happy about the baby but not yet crazed just aren't that interesting.

Jeffrey and I ARE excited. I browse online for stuff I may need for the baby and each week I go poke around at the "What your baby is doing this week" links on baby info websites.

This week, the little bump is definitely sticking out more. From nearly the end of the first month of pregnancy I was switching up to maternity jeans because It didn't like being touched but now there is no squeezing into my normal skirts and bottoms unless they have a very stretchy waistband. But, as my more upsized friends are quick to point out, my bump is still smaller than most people's normal extra body reserves so all my shirts still fit just fine -- though yesterday I had a little trouble with the zipper on my hoodie and when I tie my bathrobe around my waist, the knot in the bow just isn't in the same place.

I'm now in week 16 of this little human baking adventure. Want to see an artist's sketch of a 16 week pregnancy? Click here! The real pics on Google Images are still a bit alien looking. Artist's sketches make you want to buy it blankies! Pictures make you want to poke it with a stick.

Apparently It can hear a bit more now. So I like to yell, "Hello!" at it occasionally.

In two weeks we are scheduled for the ultrasound. We might even get to peek to see if it's a boy, a girl, or maybe a puppy!

New Bicycle

2010-10-25T16:14:00.000-07:00

So my drawn out bicycle obsession can now be closed. I finally sucked it up, ordered the bike I was coveting, and picked it up this past Saturday.

Hello, lovely!

This is the Electra Amsterdam Classic Ladies 3i. It has a fully enclosed chain guard, skirt guard, integrated front and back lights, and spiffy little bell.

I love all the old school styling on it and it is amazingly well-balanced, not as heavy as I thought, and has lots of little design details like a leather saddle and grips, chrome on the outside metal parts, and zippy little swirl designs all over it.

For the record, I had no idea that Julia Roberts rode a similar bike in Eat Pray Love. I hate when that happens. Just like Posh Spice ruined my pixie cut for me ...

Doesn't matter. I love it.

Just Jack

2010-09-09T10:52:00.000-07:00

It's official! My mom is finally a horse owner again!

This is Jack. He's an American Saddlebred and seems like a nice, tall boy. There's still a bit of work to be done with him. He needs to gain a little weight, put back some muscle, and have a nice stable (get it? stable!) owner to ride him.

Look at that face!!!

He was vanned over to the new barn today and according to my dad, immediately began munching hay. Welcome home, Jack!

I'm going to go visit NC in two weeks to meet him and do fun horse things with my mom. I can't wait!

Grandpa Rinne's iPad Case

2010-08-19T17:36:00.000-07:00

The iPad case for a true Husker fan! Hope he likes it! (Best iPad case so far, worst photography yet...)

Stuff

2010-08-12T12:05:00.000-07:00

Wow. So again another several months have gone by and I've neglected to update this blog.

Maybe now that I'm working from home I'll be better at it!

So what's been going on:
Jeffrey graduated from law school, studied for the bar, we moved and my mom came and helped, he took the bar, he looked lost for a few days, then he started his clerkship at the State Court of Appeals, then Shirley and Grandpa Rinne came, an iPad was purchased for GPR and I swear his face has never looked more happy, and then everyone left.

The house is mine! Muhahahahaha!

I'm working for Wheatmark still -- but I'm working from home which is delightful. I probably do more work now than I did in the office (and I don't do nearly as much yelling about stuff) -- which is contrary to what many people think happens when you work from home.

I wake up, sit at my computer, and then poke at my job, do laundry, eat things, work work work work work, and sometimes take 5-minute dance breaks that, if I'm fortunate, don't coincide with the mailman walking by the front window.

I'm looking forward to getting into a nice little life routine and our upcoming excursions into the Phoenix wilds.

We have tickets to The National in October, I'm trying to convince Jeffrey to go to Sharon Jones and the DapKings with me next month, I think we might actually go see a movie IN A THEATER this weekend, and well, frankly, just being able to do things without worrying about Jeffrey having to study is pretty fucking awesome.

I could get used to this.

Countdown has started

2010-05-12T15:01:00.000-07:00

Graduation Day is Saturday and the family begins trickling in tonight starting with Keith and then descending into Tucson in intervals until Friday mid-morning when the last Gautreaux brother arrives.

The grad gown has been steamed, the hood has been experimented with, the internet has been scoured for help once said hood-experimenting proved fruitless, a dress has been snagged on sale at Anthropologie and as far as I can tell, we're good to go to have an amazingly busy but fun family-filled weekend.

Just a few more hours to go to vacuum, wash cars, and generally get our house and selves up to a reasonable facsimile of what people who have their lives together look like!

Woo!

Jeffrey and I are not the same

2010-05-07T08:33:00.000-07:00

Jeffrey's last day of law school ended at exactly 4 p.m. yesterday afternoon. Did he immediately celebrate? Drinks all around at the bar? No. He went to an immigration bill forum.

Amazingly, I did get him to go out to dinner with me. He ordered the big plate of food and ate every morsel. I believe that was celebration enough.

This morning, did he sleep in, luxuriating in the fact that he had no where to be and no class to attend? No.
He woke up at 5:30 a.m. to play basketball. When that failed (furlough days, FAIL), he bought doughnuts (win!), and then came back and when I suggested he sit on the patio with me and enjoy the sun on the mountains for a minute, he seemed annoyed because he wanted to review paperwork to take to the notary. At 6:30 in the morning.

He sat with me for about five minutes, compromising to read over the papers on the patio, and then as soon as the last bite of my doughnut had been popped into my mouth, he looked at me and said, "So, can I go in and do this now?"

*sigh*

Some people just don't know how to have nothing to do.

I'm constantly amazed at his ability to work and be happy doing it. I wouldn't want it any other way. (Particularly because it turns out he AND the poodle then follow me around the house needing a little attention while I do stuff. How many years is medical school? Maybe he should enroll.)

Not an ambiturner

2010-04-18T09:40:00.000-07:00

Our dog Lucy is old. I think this summer she'll be 13. In human years, this equates to 91.

Lucy has never had great strong legs -- her back knees have always been a bit off and her feet are little collie feet under a German Shepherd-like body.

Now in her old age, she has good days and bad. Like humans, she wakes up with a crick in her neck sometimes. Today is one of those days.

The result is that she cannot turn left: Kind of like Derek Zoolander in the walk off. So now, if you call her to you from the wrong side, she has to make a circle to come see you.

And although it's kind of pathetic and obviously she is stiff and it hurts... it's still kind of funny.

I may have to have acupuncture done on her if the Rimadyl tablet doesn't straighten her out soon.

Projects for the weekend

2010-02-12T10:07:00.000-08:00

I think I've watched everything I was interested in on Netflix Instant Viewing. This means I need to do some projects because "Dead Like Me" and the entire catalog of available "Dexter" episodes has sucked enough of my life away recently (there are additional Weeds discs on their way, but at a scant 30 minutes, they are safe, right?)

Here's what I have on tap for this weekend's projects (I know it's Valentine's Day on Sunday, but really? Once I give Jeffrey his annual 6-pack of Squirt soda with a bow on it, who gives a shit? Happy Birthday, Dad!):

Make more bread.
Finish purse project (will post when completed) started when my mom was visiting which was put down due to: 1. infuriating instructions that made my eyes cross and 2. Netflix instant viewing obsessions
Create a kitchen garden by the window sill in the kitchen. The cyclamen like it, so I'm guessing basil will, too.
Make Lucy a fleece dog coat. She is going to the groomer next weekend for her spring shave down, but she might get cold still. Also need to make Lily a new fleece crate blanket -- this does not count as it's own project as I just buy a yard of fleece and shove it in there.
Start and finish photo album for Edith's birthday of our Fall Cruise. I have the parts, I just need to put them together.
General housekeeping duties including trash and clutter removal, closet weeding, and Drano during the bathroom cleanings.
Wash and wax little red car plus oil change. Consider washing Jeffrey's car.

That's right! Nothing but excitement at the Gautreaux house.

Best thing before sliced bread

2010-02-11T05:50:00.000-08:00

My bread machine came yesterday, so after dinner, I found a recipe I had the ingredients for (French bread) and got it started.

Here are the results!

I made the 2-lb loaf with the medium darkness setting. then I made us sandwiches for our lunches today.

It made a hearty loaf, came out of the machine easily, and the best part? I watched a movie while it worked.

Awesome.

Who's got the crack?

2010-02-09T05:28:00.000-08:00

On Saturday I was up at La Encantada to meet a friend for coffee at AJ's and to buy some yoga pants. (you can read all about my pants on Kat and Jules.)

Outside of AJ's, where the bell ringer stands at Christmas giving me a migraine and guilt, were angels. Little tiny angels with Minnie Mouse voices hovered over by weary parents all hocking crack.

That's right! Girl Scouts! I love when bell ringing season is replaced by helium-voiced cookie peddler season!

I snagged my box of thin mints and a box of samoas for Jeffrey. A father heartily congratulated me on my purchase and five little didn't-even-come-to-my-hip girls squealed with joy at my purchase and chorused a thank you.

Fuck yeah, little darlings. $4 a box? You better put on a show of cute for those suckers. FOUR DOLLARS!

omg thin mints are good.

Want to read about how I wasn't a Girl Scout? Click Here.

Loafing gets even lazier

2010-02-04T08:28:00.001-08:00

Yesterday I ordered a bread machine. I know. You can make bread without a machine. And yes, it isn’t hard. You just wake up some yeast, give it some sugar to feast on, throw in a little flour and water, beat it to death, leave it to think about what it’s done, and then beat it back into submission before sticking it in a pan, letting it sit a while longer, and then baking it in an oven.
It has buttons!

But one of the problems with baking bread is you have babysit it. The temperature has to be just right. And you have to be around to smack it back down. And you have to bake it in an oven that may or may not be keeping correct temperatures and may or may not be being used to cook a chicken at the same time.

See, last weekend it was finally sunny and warm enough to rise bread dough (My oven doesn’t have a warming option). So I decided to make a quick loaf of white bread. Quick meaning it took most of the day and there was a delay because I had to go to a riding lesson and there was no one home to watch the bread become, well, bread. And I didn't knead the dough enough to make really good gluten because my arms are weenie and the bread came out a little more dense than I really like it.

But homemade bread is sooo good, it makes the house smell amazing, and it has way fewer chemicals and preservatives than the store bought stuff. I swear Jeffrey achieves his mental greatness at law school because I don’t feed him over processed foods (and has nothing to do with him being really smart or driven. Nope. Not at all...). Not only that? But making bread feels like an accomplishment. I realize this is dumb. It’s bread. It’s not magic.

But it feels like magic.

It’s just easier to make magic when a machine is involved that does everything except scoop the ingredients into itself.

The next appliance on the list of lazy from scratch cooking? Rice maker.

2010: A Big Year in Gautreaux

2010-01-10T07:52:00.000-08:00

The last three years, to me, feel like they've flown by. A lot has happened since Jeffrey and I moved to Tucson for him to begin law school. Now that he is set to graduate in May, it seems amazing!

2010 is going to be a big year for us!

Jeffrey graduates from law school in May.
Then he takes the bar exam.
Then we'll be moving to the Phoenix area at the end of July for Jeffrey to start his judicial clerkship.

I feel like law school happened to both of us. I guess it sort of did. I've also been grinding away at my own jobs (I've had four different positions while in Tucson -- three with the same company) and those transitions haven't always been easy. Hopefully my position at Wheatmark won't change too much when we move to Phoenix. I'll be working remotely from home. Nice that I won't have to look for a new job when I move!

Some fun events on the horizon are my mom coming to visit, tickets to see Legally Blond the musical, my friend Lena is coming to visit, and Jeffrey's graduation will bring lots of family into town for the event and I'm looking forward to it!

In the interim, I'm slowly gathering moving boxes as book shipments come into Wheatmark and gearing up for the next phase of our life adventure.

I'm going to miss Tucson. However, I'm looking forward to August and being in Phoenix. There's a lot to do there and it will be really nice not having Jeffrey in school-mode!

Tucked in

2009-11-27T13:26:00.000-08:00

For my birthday I asked Jeffrey to get me a car cover for the MX-5.

Here she is all tucked in for the next couple of days:

When did Halloween start to suck?

2009-11-01T08:28:00.000-08:00

Last year we had about 6 kids trick or treat our house. This year? 3. From the same family. At 5 p.m. before they went to a Halloween party at church.

WTF?

Growing up, a group of us would traipse around the neighborhood with PILLOW CASES, with sight-interfering costumes and flashlights, hitting every house with a porch light on. We'd come home, dump our now-heavy bags of loot on the floor and would sort the different candies into piles. I remember the families that had a lot of kids had BOXES of old costumes to pick through.

It was unthinkable to go to the mall. Only total losers with insane parents would go to the mall.

Now the kids go to the mall without question or, (this hurts me) church Halloween parties, instead of going door-to-door.

What happened?

Paperless billing: Low on postage, high on anxiety

2009-10-20T18:06:00.000-07:00

If you've met Jeffrey, my husband, you are then fully aware that he can get a little, er, tense.

For example, the Arizona Bar Exam, many many months away, is already giving him nightmares. Many would say, "Hey, that's understandable, it's a really big test."

Yes. Yes it is.

However, most students probably are worried about it, have some anxiety about it, and can move on. In fact, many students should have this level of anxiety about it as they are about as smart as our poodle but have thumbs and lucked out and filled in the right bubbles on the Scantron sheet.

Jeffrey, despite his demonstrated exceptional intelligence, continues to grimly prepare me for my potential future living in a cardboard box. (I just tell him we'll try to raid the Lowe's recycling area for a Sub Zero box so he'll fit. I'm very supportive.)

So today when I opened our cell phone bill and it was erroneously reporting that we owed the carrier one bajillion dollars, my panic wasn't that we actually owed one bajillion dollars (we don't), it was that I needed to hide it before Jeffrey got home. Or maybe more adult-like, call customer service and get it squared away. Before. The. Freakout.

It isn't enough to Big Lebowski him with a hearty Walter "Nothing is fucked here," but I knew that if I didn't call immediately, he'd spend the rest of the evening worrying that not only did we owe the money, but that checking the bank balance would show the money had been deducted. (Of course not evidence of payment, but that they had our money and they didn't know it and we couldn't prove it thus pitching us into some kind of e-billing black hole of despair.)

Where does this anxiety stem from! Paperless billing? Something even my mom got a handle on several years ago? Still freaks the shit out of him.

Point out that this is as unscientific as his father's fear of ATMs taking his card and never giving it back (and thus he will not use the ever-so-reliable-been-used-for-years-so-calm-the-hell-down machines or his defiance in using seat belts and allowing the warning bing to slowly drive everyone in the car to the brink of insanity).

Going electronic was supposed to alleviate the worry of having to remember to pay stuff. It was supposed to save us a stamp and reduce the anxiety of the monthly bill pay. Instead, it's just one more thing that can potentially go wrong and take us one step closer to our corrugated cardboard home.

At home with the me

2009-10-19T18:55:00.000-07:00

*waves*

Hi there! I suck. I know. I haven't been blogging and I never got the photos up from my trip and I've caught a lot of shit for it and, well, maybe now that I'm not blogging daily for my job I'll have a little free mental space for this blog.

Lord knows I write enough every day on Twitter and Facebook to fill the space up.

So, I'm sorry, I'll try to be better.

And here is some dialogue from Gross Pointe Blank to fill your void of joy:

Marty: Oatman? Don't hang up. Listen, I didn't kill anyone - except some guy tried to kill me, so if I see that guy again, I'm definitely gonna kill him, but I'm not going to kill anybody else. I'm on my way to the reunion now with Debi, but I'm just a little nervous, and I'd like to do a phoner.
Dr. Oatman: O.K., repeat after me. "I am at home with the me. I am rooted in the me who is on this adventure."
Marty: I am at home with the me, I am rooted in the me who is on this adventure.
Dr. Oatman: Good. Now take a deep breath, and realize that this is me breathing.
Marty: Wait, I'm confused. Do you want me to say it or do you want me to realize it?
Dr. Oatman: What?
Marty: About the breathing.
Dr. Oatman: Say it.
Marty: This is me breathing.
Dr. Oatman: Good, now keep doing that for about twenty minutes.
Marty: Listen, I got to go.
Dr. Oatman: O.K. Keep it up. Don't kill anybody.
Marty: Right!
[Hangs up]

And a video clip from "In the Loop" that is horrendously vulgar and is possibly my new favorite bunch of sound bites. This is NSFS (Not Safe for Shirley).

Jet lag is easy if you don't have to be anywhere...

2009-09-06T13:56:00.000-07:00

View from the Tower of London Bridge

Hanging out in the drawing room of The Dukes

St. Paul's Cathedral

A little skyline. The pointy bullet building is the Gherkin

The back of Buckingham Palace from the garden

Today we got started a bit late. Neither one of us woke up until around noon, so by the time we had finished our tour of the Buckingham Palace state rooms, we had only a little bit of time before the stores closed.

Edith has become obsessed with the Liberty signature soaps, so we had to go back and snag a few more bars of it. I don't know how we're getting it home considering that on the way here her bags were already prohibitively over the weight allowance. Going to have to get some more luggage I guess.

We had wanted to do a river tour on the Thames, but by the time we got to the dock area, they had shuttered for the night. Instead, our cab driver took us around and showed us some important buildings--the building they call the gherkin due to it's pickle shape, a government office they call the glass testicle, the Tower of London, St. Paul's Cathedral, Westminster Abby, Parliament, and a few others. This was excellent, one we didn't have to walk and two I didn't have to pretend I actually cared and could just admire the window boxes (like the ones that have little topiary bushes the best. Geranium plantings a close second).

I think it's time to head out. The staff at the hotel have started asking us what our room number is with an intonation that suggests they are putting a black mark next to it on some "spit in their tea" ledger.

Oh! And speaking of tea, we had afternoon tea/coffee/ice cream in the hotel drawing room and a group of ladies with southern accents were gabbing in one of the alcoves. They were snapping pictures and I offered to take on of their group. When I asked them where they were from, they said Lubbock. The story continues in a really boring way so the gist of it is that not only did Edith live in Lubbock, but apparently Edith and the ladies all knew the same people and we're all going on the same trip. Only Edith and I can travel all the way to London and not meet anyone British.

The real point of the trip, the cruise, will start tomorrow. We leave for Southampton in a hired car at 11 a.m. and it apparently takes about two hours to get there. I'm not sure what the wi-fi situation will be on the boat, so if you don't see any more posts from me, it means the situation is expensive!

What time is it?

2009-09-05T15:17:00.000-07:00

Dukes Hotel

The London Eye or "The Big Wheel" as the cabbie called it.

Big Ben as seen from the London Eye

No. 6 Chester Street revisited.

I have no idea what time it is here or anywhere else. Generally, this isn't a problem except, well, Edith keeps asking me what time it is.

So ... Live from London! It's us!

Here's the tally for the trip so far:
1. American Airlines employees abused- 2
2. Seats that were supposed to be empty on the flight that were instead filled by a lady who decided she wanted to sit there instead of her booked seat and totally bummed me out (who also happened to look like a mole or some other dark dwelling, fairly sightless creature - 1
3. Number of Ambien pills taken to ignore mole-like lady's elbows - 1/2
4. Number of times I lost Edith in Harrod's-2
5. Bars of soap purchased for Edith Compadres that she is now not giving to them because the soap is too good for them-6
6. Amount of English speakers in London Eye capsule-2
7. Times I've asked an 85-year-old woman if she has her teeth (can I just say that there is something very amusing to me about a glass of teeth soaking on a gorgeous marble vanity?)- so far, only had to check twice

So far, so good. The Dukes is a lovely hotel nestled secretively in the Picadilly area of London (we've walked right by it twice. It's really hidden and none of the local shop girls know where it is, even if they are working right across the street). Edith's walking tolerance is limited so we've taken a lot of cabs today and one guy swung us by the millions-of-dollar townhouse I stayed in when I was younger with my mom and aunt years ago.

The weather has been wonderful today and I was able to wear semi-fall clothes, which considering the first time I'll get to even come close to that in Tucson is November, I was pretty excited.

My favorite place in London is now Liberty of London on Regent. They wouldn't let me take pictures inside, but seriously, Shaleah, Anthro has nothing on Liberty.

Tomorrow we do Buckingham Palace and possibly a Thames sight-seeing cruise. Also might need to go back to Liberty...

Monday we get on the ship!

The First Day of the Last Year

2009-08-24T17:28:00.001-07:00

Jeffrey Gautreaux

3L at the University of Arizona James E Rogers College of Law

and Managing Editor of the Arizona Law Review

Looking excited ... OK, maybe not.

And you thought poodle sweaters were bad ...

2009-07-06T18:29:00.001-07:00

Lucy has had a recurring wound on one of her paws that I think may be related to the hot pavement in the complex and the harsh gravelly bits at the dog park.

So in order to keep her pads intact, I decided she needed to try out dog boots. Paw Tectors to be exact.

I was planning on a nice discreet black to go with her face mask. They only had pink.

My dogs should really learn to resist or at least rebel a little bit. But no. They just go along with it. My dogs are awesome.

And for those wondering how well she walks in them, video!

Monsoon!

2009-06-30T19:05:00.000-07:00

Last night we had some high winds and drizzle. Tonight, the sky opened up. What's always amazing to me is how these huge storms well up throughout the day, unleash their fury in the evening, but only for about a half hour. An hour after it started, it had completely stopped rainin. An hour and a half later, there was a sunset with just the smell of Tucson rain in the air and wet pavement to signal a storm had passed.

Western Bike Trip 2009

2009-06-02T21:16:00.000-07:00

Some of you know my dad is on a massive motorcycle trip around parts of America. He got to Tucson to rest his ass last Tuesday, just as Jeffrey and I were getting back from our Nebraska adventures (pictures here).

My dad's friend Bob got here on Sunday around lunchtime. He drove from Raleigh, NC to Tucson in what may be a record for crossing the country for people who are not astronauts on jealous revenge missions. Left Raleigh a little after 10 p.m. and got to Tucson a little after 10 a.m. that Sunday. He eyes were a little bloodshot when he got here ...

So they are now off on their Montana loop adventure. You can follow my dad on his SmugMug page where he has posted maps, photos, and captions that ever so subtly suggest that Denis C. holds them up and that Sedona is a modern-day consumer travesty!

The Life Cycle of Doves

2009-04-29T17:36:00.000-07:00

First there was the egg that I tried to thwart with a forest of plastic cutlery. The eggs would not be denied.

Then there is a giant leap in the timeline because I was afraid they would die like last year's so I didn't want to get attached.

This morning before I left for work, the two babies were hopping around precariously in the rail box.

When I got home, the nest was empty.

I looked to the rocks below, but didn't see any bodies splayed out and broken from the fall. "Maybe they made it," I thought to myself.

A little sad, I turned around to go in.

And there they were...

...Crapping on all my stuff!

Those bastards!

Beady Eye ENHANCE!

ding ding Ding DIng DING DING

2009-04-22T15:30:00.001-07:00

The microwave at work dings once when it is done and then, if not tended to, it dings little reminder dings about every five minutes afterward. (It also loses all power if you try to make coffee and microwave something at the same time.)

After about a half-hour of hearing reminder dings, I thought, "hey, that's annoying."

 I realized that one of my coworkers was outside on her cell phone, so maybe it was hers.

So I waited.

 *Ding Ding*

  She came inside and sat at her desk.

*Ding Ding*

 I said loudly, "Does someone have something in the microwave?"

"Not me" replied coworker that had been outside.

*Ding Ding*

  "DOES ANYONE HAVE FOOD IN THE MICROWAVE?" I asked from the hallway.

 No response.

So I go to Susan's office and ask her personally (because standing a foot from her open office door in the hallway wasn't sufficient).

 "Susan, were you microwaving something?" (The following response brought me to my knees. I was crying I was laughing so hard.)

  "I don't know. What is it?"

What?! WHAT?! I DON'T KNOW! WHAT IS IT?! OBVIOUSLY it is NOT your FUCKING food!  EEJITS!

T-Shirt UpCycling

2009-04-19T13:38:00.000-07:00

This morning I woke up with a strong need to redesign some of my t-shirts.

First I woke Jeffrey up and had him help me make a body form of myself using an old t-shirt and some duct tape. Here's a tutorial for those inclined to do this as well. We only used one layer and we only did the torso because that's how much duct tape we had.

Secondly, I started putting whole shirts on the form and attacking them with scissors and elastic.

voila!

Spring!

2009-04-04T15:33:00.000-07:00

The Palo Verde's in Tucson are in bloom and I'm dosed up on Walgreen's brand Zyrtec and feeling pretty good.

I went out with my friend Julie to do The "turquoise" trail around the downtown Presidio neighborhood. The trail is a loop around the historic district where the Old Pueblo used to be.

The first stop was a chunk of the old original fort built by war lords (or not, there were live re-enactors there and they were blocking the signage. We don't go near re-enactors. So we had to wait until one of the popped away for water before we could check out the barracks.)

But I did snap a shot of Julie pretending to discuss politics with the local mural men.

And this awesome sign advertising that this old hotel has a swimming pool — refrigerated!

It was a nice breezy day and despite everything in downtown Tucson being closed so that we couldn't get food and water while lost on the trail ...

It was a great walk in a cool part of town on a beautiful day.

Jeffrey was home studying.

NyQuil and the Gilmore Girls: Make it Work

2009-02-18T19:05:00.000-08:00

Right after I purchased a million dollars worth of Mrs. Meyer's Clean Day's amazing cleaning products and was armed with my new pink Playtex cleaning gloves (with L'Occitane rose hand cream on underneath for moisturizing multitasking) I came down with a wicked cold. I mean I bought the stuff at noon and by 3:30 p.m. I was on the couch moaning.

I cleaned the kitchen, the hall bath, had wiped down most of the surfaces in the living room and even had scrubbed (er ... chipped) off the layers of coffee in rings on my desk. The house smelled divinely of basilly Mrs. Meyer's goodness. And then WALLOP! Huge horrible sinus-infection feeling swollen head, uncontrollable sneezing, and just exhaustion. At first I thought it was the Mrs. Meyer's (that stuff is POTENTLY fragranced) that was attacking me.

By Monday morning I couldn't get out of bed. Even NyQuil wasn't making much of a dent in my symptoms.

I blame Jeffrey. Obviously he brought the germ from law school. They may be smart, but I don't think that group washes their hands. (I have proof: when I was at the school last week for trivia night a girl I encountered in the bathroom RINSED her FINGERTIPS under the water for a second and ran out. Um. No. That is not scrubbing in. Dirty law students!)

So what do you do when you are home sick while everyone goes to work and you don't have cable? I watched the Gilmore Girls (Seasons 3 and 4) and read Tim Gun's book on style.

So now I'm talking really fast ala Lorelai and seriously considering throwing out half of my closet because it doesn't fit the tenets of style, taste, and quality (and fit).

However, I was home in time to snag my Old Navy purchases from the UPS guy. My $10 T-shirt is fantastic!

The End of the World

2009-02-06T20:14:00.000-08:00

Watching Werner Herzog's documentary, "Encounters at the End of the World."

Not a movie about "fluffy penguins," Werner esplores the characters that have chosen to live, work, and study in the South Pole.

Breathtakingly beautiful, the film has the underlying theme that we (as well as a few disoriented penguins) are on a futile journey to learn about the Earth fully until the Earth "regulates" us into nonexistence.

It's pretty awesome. It's very Herzogian. It's very cold looking. It makes you worried about global warming.

And I don't understand why the one woman's bar show at the base camp is to put herself in a duffel bag and scoot around the stage.

Such is life in a Herzog documentary I guess.

Things of Awesomeness

2009-01-19T21:06:00.000-08:00

Tonight was the series finale of "Mama's Boys." Possibly the worst guilty pleasure EVER, the show had zero content that made it worthwhile except the crazed ranting of mothers that needed counseling and that made Jeffrey and I fear for Jo Jo's well being. SEACREST! You inglorious bastard!

And the greatest Yao Ming picture. I just can't stop looking at it.

Overcoming Some Obstacles

2009-01-18T09:45:00.000-08:00

Friday I finally made it to a yoga class. The studio was new and clean and the clients were nice, tidy people who weren't wearing patchoili or *gasp* no odor masker at all, and the teacher was a sparkly and fun chick who was excited to see Suzette and me.

I don't think Suzette liked it very much. At one point she asked me, "Is this when we drink the Kool-Aid?" I guess she wasn't much for the om-ing.

After class I felt great. Saturday, I woke up with a headache just felt sore all over. I'm guessing that the yoga class did one or any of the following: unleashed demons in my body or I used muscles I hadn't really been using at all or maybe just in new ways.

Saturday night we went out to get a new all-in-one printer. All was going well until I hit the same problem I've been having with my computer for several months but hadn't gotten around to fixing: I'm an asshole and I have forgotten my system administration password.

That's the password that lets you install new programs, update software, and install printer drivers onto your machine.

I knew the hard way to fix it: backup everything and reinstall the operating system.

I kept hoping for a different option. After some tantrum throwing and poodle shoving, Jeffrey decided it was time to call Keith who, although is a doctor, also is some kind of weird Apple savant.

Keith agreed I had to reinstall the operating system. Damnit!

So I burned everything on my desktop to discs just in case, and started the process.

After hours of uploading all the things I needed to after the install, I now have a machine that is doing everything I could ever hope my machine would do, except make coffee.

Maybe Keith can develop a hack for that ...

This is an uber-awesome day, folks.

Now where is that bottle of Advil ...

Promises promises

2009-01-15T20:43:00.000-08:00

I promised to blog everyday. I didn't promise it would be interesting.

I'm tired. Work seemed long today. I did get a lot of child-like glee out of my balance ball I've been using as a chair and it is definitely helping my back and stomach ab area strenth.

But now I'm just tired. We had excellent Greek chicken kababs and a Greekish pasta salad side that I made, so that was nice. And I had a ballet class. Then I went to Starbucks and had one of their tea lattes. I won't do that again. Tea lattes aren't that good.

So now I'm waiting on some corrections for a newsletter and am contemplating a bath. Soaking in hot water sounds mighty goooo.

Yay! Friday is around the bend!

Shake your groove thing

2009-01-13T19:56:00.000-08:00

It's that time of year again: ballet recital time. This year the studio where I take classes is putting on Cinderella.

The adult dancers who kind of suck (my class) are the "seamstresses" and the part is about three minutes long. I will not be on that stage.

I have a lot of reasons not to do it and they all make me sound either 1. pathetic 2. whiney or 3. bitchy.

So because I'm dropping one of my classes every week, I need to replace it with something else that keeps my old butt off the couch.

What I'm looking into:

capoeira

yoga

aerial dance

hula hoop dance

tap

Lord of the Awkward Moment

2009-01-12T18:51:00.000-08:00

Because we don't have cable, I am watching some NBC world dance-off show. The Lord of the Dance guy is the host and he just said to the South African dance leader, "What was that dance? Is that a battle? Are you hunting? You definitely seemed angry about something."

South African dance leader just kind of stared at him.

I also like the judge from China who doesn't seem to speak English so thus shares no witty banter like the guy from India who I think grew up in L.A. or the hilarious guy from Russia that keeps making vodka jokes. China guy just says his score ... kind of angrily. And it is always 8.

Awesome.

That Ryan Seacrest's brain child "Mamas' Boys" follows it on the airing schedule and that I had pizza pretty much makes this a great evening.

Cool weather=crazy horses

2009-01-12T10:09:00.000-08:00

Lately, I've been a better rider.

I don't know if it is because ballet has made my legs stronger, I'm more confident, or maybe it is because Kendall at the Barn told me to "get on that horse, smack it with the crop, and don't take any shit" which has proved to be a magic tip.

Either or all, I've been a much better rider lately. Which is a damn good thing because the horses have gone wild.

The weather here has been chilly at night and glorious during the day and the horses have been feeling mighty feisty lately. Ted, a 22-year-old thoroughbred (which is elderly for a horse), has been downright ornery. You get on him, if he holds still long enough for mounting, and he takes off down the rail barely walking and has the "hops." Even Martin, my trusty buddy who normally just bucks when he wants you to be aware of something (kind of like pointing at something, except that they have hooves and it's hard to point with a hoove unless you are Bullwinkle), has been a bit hard to keep all feet on the ground because he's just gone nutty.

It ends up requiring a lot more leg strength as you pinch your knees into the saddle, and a lot more humor. It's sort of hilarious having these older horses yip around the ring, but only if you are ready for it and are prepared to ride through. And keep your hands still, and don't use your legs, and don't pull back, and 100 other things you are supposed to do when your horse is out of control and you are on top trying to maintain composure.

We've had a nice selection of ice cream to choose from (riders bring ice cream when they fall off as penance) fortunately none of it is has yet to be provided by me!

What's my point? I don't have one. My legs are sore though, from trying to stay on.

I promise to be better.

2009-01-12T10:04:00.000-08:00

I know I've been really really really horrible at keeping up with my blogging.

Here are my excuses (not necessarily in order of weight):

1. It's what I do all day at my job as a marketing assistant for a book publisher. I write blog entries and articles and twitter all day so when I get home I'm just over the whole communication aspect of the computer.

2. I'm not that interested in talking about my life except in random non sequitors. Like last night I enjoyed some of our fine local advertising that made me laugh out loud. But was it blog worthy? Well, it will be from now on.

3. I'm a slacker.

So I promise, from now on, I will blog EVERYDAY. EVERYDAY YOU HEAR ME, ME?!

I pinky promise.

It's Feexed, It's Feexed!

2008-12-17T19:28:00.000-08:00

I haven't blogged in a while. And I'm sorry. If you want to read what has been going on lately, you may want to check out Jeffrey's Blog at Tucsonic Boom. He's had more time lately for blogging since his winter break from law school.

OK. So what have I been up to? Mostly going to work at the book publisher, working on freelance print design projects at home, and dreaming of excellent crafty projects.

So what is feexed? My sewing machine.

I bought it with one of my first newspaper job paychecks at the Wal-Mart in Elizabeth City. It was the only place to shop there practically. No Jo-Ann with it's huge Bernina display. Just Wal-Mart.

But that was back in 2002. It's been almost seven years and I just had it serviced for the first time it its life. Apparently you're supposed to do it every year. I did it when it finally started making a banging noise.

The bobbin winder broke about a week after I bought the machine. I had kind of jerry rigged it into place with some tape. And if I held my thumb just so, it would work.

It came back spotlessly clean, quiet as anything even when running at it's highest speed AND THE FUCKING BOBBIN WINDER WORKS!!! No more tape. No more thumb.

So now I can start working on all these projects I've been dreaming of for the last several months that it has been broken -- like a sick person unwilling to go to the doctor, I've been putting off having the machine fixed.

But Cathey's Sew and Vacuum got the job done. And now I'm thinking this weekend I'm going to spray paint its dust cover hot pink in celebration for the next seven years!

I've also added another blog for those of you interested in clothes, house stuff, and everything else cute.

What a Caper!

2008-10-28T08:13:00.000-07:00

This weekend I was in my first horse show in I think 15 years. I rode a horse named Caper (What a Caper is his show name) and he's an 18 year old American Saddlebred.

Caper is an old man, but he loves to show. As he's rocketing through the in gate, you can feel his energy surge, he gets his head set, and you're in for a fun ride.

I won both of my classes: A showmanship class and an equitation class.

It was a great weekend!

Crap! I just used tape in a vacuum!

2008-10-22T10:40:00.000-07:00

I will tell you all about my jaunt to N.C. soon ... but it requires the uploading of video and pictures and that takes time.

Instead you get snarky scientists!

I should have been a scientist, at least one that is interviewed by the Associated Press. Those science guys are snarky!

A recent article about tape being used to make X-rays was very interesting considering all the wonderful things it could me for, er, science.

My favorite part though, was when the reporter asks if there are any health hazards related to using tape and the newly (sort of ... Russia, do you always have to weasel your way into science?) discovered rays.

The scientist explained that the X-rays are only developed when done in a vacuum. Said scientist then is quoted as saying, ""If you're going to peel tape in a vacuum, you should be extra careful."

Should have been a scientist. They would have thought I was hilarious.

Farmer's Market

2008-10-05T15:24:00.001-07:00

Today I dragged Jeffrey (and my friend Julie and her husband Jack) to one of Tucson's ephemeral farmers' markets.

They pop up on weekends and have confounding formulas about where they will be and when. Like, for example, the merchants will be there every third Sunday of the month if there is a full moon and it rains a 1/10 of an inch within two days of the scheduled appearance and the month has to have a E in it. Or some other confusing thing that makes it impossible for me to remember to go.

But the one at St. Philip's Plaza is every Sunday from 8-noon. I can remember that. Mostly because the swanky shoe place is there and they open at noon.

So we popped over and meandered around, bought locally roasted coffee and bell peppers and sampled localish goat cheeses.

Several things about this particular market stuck out for me: An inordinately large population of standard poodles and Italian greyhounds shopping around with their people, apparently people who like McCain were not invited (the parking lot, as Jeffrey pointed out, looked like that of an Obama rally) and rich people are not always really bright. I had the following conversation with a woman with a very expensive handbag at the goat cheese booth:

Me: "Man, I wish they'd brought the goats. I would have liked to have met them!"

Rich Lady: "But would you still be able to eat the cheese?"

Me: "Why not? Um, I like goats!"

Rich Lady: "Oh yeah. They don't have to kill them for cheese."

Me: "Nope. But that would suck if they did." Awkward silence. Then just crazy giggling from me and lady who then realized she should have paid attention in preschool. Sigh.

Then I had ANOTHER awkward conversation at said booth with ANOTHER fairly well-kept looking woman about goat's milk:

Me: "Yes, I have heard that people who are lactose intolerant to cow's milk can have goat products."

Woman: "It's more than just that. Insert Earth mother bullshit propaganda about cow's milk and digestions, etc."

Me: "Whatever. I can have cow's milk with no problem so I don't really care. I really like ice cream."

Woman: Dust cloud where woman was once standing leftover from her marching away in a huff... and I'm not really even sure why she was mad at me. I mean, I was BUYING goat cheese.

Here's a picture of Julie and Jack enjoying goat cheese samples (from very happy alive goats) far away from crazy people. OK, chica in the blue tank top hangover combo might have been not normal ... but I guess Julie didn't get drawn into a convo with her ...

On Saturday Jeffrey and I did a little gardening and added spinach, sugar snap peas, cabbage, onions, cauliflower, lettuces, and some pansies to the garden row. We also ripped out the remaining tomato plant. Now that the weather is cooling down a bit we can plant more than squash. Hopefully it grows!

Sunday at Sabino

2008-09-29T20:32:00.000-07:00

The monsoon season in Tucson is over and the wind is beginning to bring cooler air in ... and making my skin really, really dry (thank goodness for Aveeno).

We actually opened the windows up in the house for most of Sunday. The wind outside, not always great for contact lens wearers, created a really pleasant cross breeze in the rooms and we didn't need the air conditioner until the early evening when it gets a little toasty right before the sun begins to set.

It was so nice, Jeffrey put off studying for a few hours to go enjoy the weather with me up the street in Sabino Canyon. There were a lot of people with similar ideas and the pathways were packed with Tusconans with weird hiking hats, poles, gallons of water strapped to their backs, and all kinds of gear. Jeffrey and I felt maybe some were a bit over-geared.

Absolutely a gorgeous start to the day. There was still water in the canyon but the air was crisp and dry. The kind of day that makes you happy to be living in such a beautiful place.

Eric's New Online Shop

2008-09-08T11:41:00.000-07:00

My brother Eric has put some of his photos on wares at CafePress.

Check out our new mini mogul's stuff!

I Like Carrots Modifications

2008-09-06T16:09:00.000-07:00

Instead of doing work or practicing knitting, I thought I would take some time to play with my blog's look.

Dots!

Also, I've added a blog roll (if you don't see your blog here, it might be because I don't know the URL anymore ... gabel group, Lena's baby blog ... I will add it if you will give it to me again.

AND introducing (trumpet noises!) a poll. Because everyone likes a poll, right? I don't know what good it will do, but it will be fun to test out.

Also, for those of you who don't know what a twitter update is, those are from my Twitter site where I often post up little bits of fun during the day because it's easy. If you want to see the other end of the conversation, go to Twitter and sign up for a free account and start following people. It's fun and you can lurk. (and it might curb the panicked emails from my mom who only saw me telling Snaps -- my brother Eric -- that I was sorry and she assumes the worst ... he was just sick ma!)

Craftiness Part Deux

2008-09-06T15:29:00.000-07:00

Today was my first beginner knitting class.

My mom and I tried to learn to knit several years ago. She has since made a sweater. I think I used my needles to stake a plant.

I sucked at it.

My fingers aren't generally that nimble. I have trouble with some fine motor skills and when it came to knitting, I would brain the concept down to the fingers, but it was like a game of telephone: The message somehow became altered and knitting was not possible.

But I thought I would give it another shot. I looked online and tried to read the diagrams, but it was about as helpful as an IKEA instruction sheet.

I went online, did a Google for "knitting classes in Tucson" and came across Purls Tucson and they had tons of classes.

So I signed up.

The class was great.

Instead of it being a bunch of white hairs, the instructor was cool and didn't yet qualify for anything with an AARP acronym. Her assistant was a twenty-something manchild who looked like he should be doing something much more masculine than knitting but who is apparently an awesome knitter (and I heard him talking to some of my classmates, and he was a great teacher. His mommy should be proud.)

And ... I knitted!!!

Also, I finished my lunch bag right before I (possibly) broke my sewing machine!

I bought a rotary cutter and mat ... these are excellent inventions. If you ever make anything with fabric that requires cutting, buy one. And the cutters now come in pretty colors. So you get innovation AND cuteness. Awesome.

CRAFTINESS!

2008-08-28T08:33:00.000-07:00

I've been in a fabric rut. Hancock and their ilk have been relentlessly stocking quilting fabric and that's about it. Nothing new or interesting. And I'm not upholstering a couch. I just wanna make stuff cute!

Jcarolinecreative has wicked cute fabric (so does reprodepot) so I ordered this and this.

My plan is to make a new lunch bag since my old one had a smelly seepage issue that caused it to be flung in a dumptser. When I complete it, I'll post it here.

But I still will have tons of extra fabric. But wait!

I have a sad boring phone with an extra detachable face plate that's all scratched up (ha ha! presanded!) just begging for some adornment.

I think I'm going to attach some fabric to it via some spray adhesive and some cursing. Should be pretty awesome.

While looking for what type of glue to use, I came across this site. It made me pretty happy. Like a translator only for glue! And it's called This to That which is great.

But I'm not taking their advice.

We're Not Sure What Charlie Sheen Said

2008-08-19T14:42:00.000-07:00

On a recent "Two and a Half Men" rerun, Allen was talking to Charlie about taking little Jake out camping -- do some hunting, fishing, bonding with the boy. Charlie responded snarkily ... actually we don't know what Charlie said because Terry, Jeffrey's dad, can't quite tell us about it. It's been two days. He still can't get it out.

Vanity Plates

2008-08-12T11:35:00.000-07:00

My dad has been hard at work coming up with vanity plate ideas for the Lil Mi'

MYMIATA
MEMIATA
MIMIATA
KATSMX5
MX54KAT
MX5 KAT
MX5 4ME
MX5 4US
MXFIVE
08MIATA
GR8MX5
MXDASH5
MMMIATA
MMM MX5
TRUERED
TRU RED
SPARKLY
08AZ NC
08NC AZ
08SOFTY
08MT6NC
08NCMT6
08MX5NC
MIATA42
YWAIT
WAYFUN
NCGIRL